BEHIND THE SCENE

While it’s pretty simple to achieve rim light photos in the studio, it’s a whole other ballgame when in the field with wildlife.

There are many factors that have to come together at the same time. Firstly, you need a really dark background. Second, you need  low light behind the subject. And third, you need your subject to be right in front of the light source.

Pre-visualizing this kind of situation is essential so that you can be ready, with the right camera settings, if and when the bear decides to position himself right at the desired spot.

It’s essential to anticipate and be ready when that happens, because usually you only have a few seconds to shoot before the bear moves on.

It’s a lot of work, and involves patience and luck. It’s extremely rewarding, though, when it all come together — like this image of a brown bear I took recently in Kamchatka, in Russia’s Far East.

Over the years, I have developed my own photographic language and style. I don’t create or “make” images. Rather, I immerse myself in the moment, humbled in the presence of Mother Nature.
I see myself as more of an interpreter, a witness. When shooting I focus on composition, and that's about it.
My final goal is to convey emotion through simplicity. I love high-key photography for that reason. I find that by dramatically overexposing an image, one does away unnecessary, unwanted detail, like the cracks and texture of the pack ice in this example.