Due to the frantic nature of high summer here at Wild Brown Bear, I have been visiting the hides much less frequently. Fortunately for me however, those few nights have been filled with unforgettable interactions and spectacular photographic opportunities. Throughout June and July the sunlight lasts for hours into the evening, allowing you to successfully photograph the bears and wolverine well into the 'night'. The photo below is of a frequent visitor to the area - Aulis. It was taken at 9:50 pm, 300mm, F4, ISO 800, 1/640. You can tell from the settings that the level of available light at this time is very high, definitely sufficient enough to use and F4 or F5.6 lens, without running the risk of shutter blur.
The possibilities when shooting here are almost unlimited. As an example for this statement, these three photographs are all taken with a 300mm lens on a full frame body (5D Mark ii). What you can appreciate is the huge diversity of framing, light and composition that is possible in the space of only a few hours from 1 hide, on 1 particular night. The predators are always mobile so many different angles of view are possible from just one individual, and their movement allows for shooting portraits to environmental landscapes.
The 'sunset' last for approximately 1-2 hours at this time of the year, although it will soon begin to decrease until a faster transition occurs as it did during April. During those hours the light is bright enough for sufficient shutter speeds but still rich enough to produce wonderful photographers. The photo below - again taken of Aulis - was made at ~ 10:30 pm, you can appreciate the colour quality and richness of the light, as he slowly moves due west into the sunset. The behaviour of the bears during July is also fascinating, due to the huge emergence of summer fruits and berries on the forest floors. It is an experience in itself to observe the predators foraging on the outskirts of the forest well into the evening, again this creates more photographic opportunities, as the individuals are highly mobile and at varying distances from the hide.
