November 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest Advanced Category Winner

As I approached a milestone birthday, I wanted to celebrate it in a meaningful and memorable way. With a love of wildlife photography and bears, an idea quickly took shape: what could be more incredible than traveling to the wilds of Alaska for a coastal brown bear photography expedition? I floated the idea to a couple of photographer friends, and they immediately said yes. Before long, we had booked a guided trip to Lake Clark National Park with KAR Photography, based out of Snug Harbor Outpost – both truly exceptional.
With more than 18 hours of daylight during the Alaskan summer, we were able to spend long, glorious days observing and photographing the bears. Our guides were meticulous about keeping us at safe distances that ensured both our safety and, most importantly, that the bears’ natural behaviors were not disturbed. That didn’t stop a few curious bears from occasionally approaching to check us out, but every moment was handled with the bears’ well-being as the top priority.

This young cub was especially entertaining, plopping down nearby to scratch, stretch, and roll around onto its back, providing countless joyful photo opportunities. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the sheer delight of the moment. I captured this image from a low angle using my Canon R5 with a 400mm f/2.8 lens, shooting wide open to emphasize the cub while minimizing foreground and background distractions.
It’s difficult to fully put into words what it feels like to be with the coastal brown bears in their natural, undisturbed habitat. The solitude, intimacy, and deep sense of connection with both the bears and the landscape is truly a privilege and a gift.

My birthday trip was an overwhelming success, exceeding even my highest expectations.