Polar Bear Mom and Cub

[NorthernFocus]

...My experience in shooting was in a Zodiac, and would support the camera while leaning on the inflated gunwale. Every time someone else pushed or leaned on it, there goes the composition...

Same situation, Manfred. The boat was likely even tipsier than the zodiac. It was a 19ft boat only 7ft wide and wind blew the whole time. The only time the boat was stable was when we were lodged in ice or nosed up on the beach. This was the guide's first season too so he had to educated on where/how to position the boat and to be still when shooting was going on.

...This experience would be a bucket list for me...

This was a bucket list item for me as well, Kay. Not likely to be repeated. And it fulfilled expectations. Glad you enjoy the posts of Alaskan scenes/wildlife.

Traveling down under was a life's long bucket list item as well from childhood. That was fulfilled in 2013 but will be repeated again this November. And will hopefully be repeated several more times in coming years. My bride and I love both Oz and NZ. Though southern NZ is very similar to Alaska in many ways. All but the accents

[Ndukes]

These are absolutely amazing Dan.

[Stagecoach]

Wonderful set again Dan.

[kaneohebud]

What a great opportunity, Dan. Beautiful shots as always. I'm so envious my brown eyes have turned green.

[IzzieK]

What can I say that everyone has already said --Excellent shots and wonderful series, Dan.

[Wandjina]

Sensational photos, Dan. I spent a couple of days in Churchill a few years ago but didn't manage to take anything remotely like your photos. Well done

[Otavio]

Beautiful images, Dan. Great animals and you did a very good job capturing some magical moments.

Well done!

[Mike Buckley]

I was away when you started this thread and it's really exciting to finally notice it. Such a wonderful series of photos that culminates in the snow scene.

The polar bears seem to be in an environment that makes it possible to see far away the predators of the young. Lines of sight will be shorter for the brown bears. Unless the brown bears have other detection mechanisms that are superior to the polar bears, perhaps that explains the more relaxed behavior of the polar bears.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you all enjoyed the post. Sometimes watching these guys playing one tends to forget that they are apex predators and unlike other bear species PBs will readily attack people.