Situated in the Finnish Taiga Forests (Martinselkonen) close to the Russian border.
Owing to the latitude, and the available light in mid-summer, I was able to take acceptable images throughout the night. I returned here during April 2025, (hopefully) to photograph bears coming out of hibernation onto snow, Male bears usually emerge first, unlike my summer visit, it was too dark to take images between 9.30 pm and 4.00 am, however the light we had was sublime.
Being situated in a hide from late afternoon until the following morning over four nights with these noble animals was a truly memorable and humbling experience.
Brown Bear.
Swamp Bear, Finland.
Night Bear, photographed around midnight.
Brown Bear Cubs.
This shouldn't hurt!
There's no need to shout!
Which way did it go?
Bear Cub climbs a tree for safety.
Paws for reflection.
This Juvenile Brown Bear appeared out of the mist at dawn and with perfect timing!
Male Brown Bear, I Called him Bruno.
Bear cuddles.
Brown Bear and Cubs.
Brown Bear emerges from the forest.
Siblings.
I was fortunate to visit Finland to photograph Brown Bears in snow. Timing for this trip is always tricky, too much snow and the bears are unable to move around or too late and the snow may have melted.
Male Brown Bear in falling snow, taken from a small one person hide whilst laying down, which adds a nice perspective.
King of the forest
Running from a rival
Fabulous light and we can see his breath!
