Male Polar Bear Swimming in Open Water
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Eye contact with a polar bear in the water changes the dynamic. On land, you have options. In the water, he's in his element and you're not. This male surfaced about sixty feet from the boat and held my gaze for a long ten seconds before deciding we weren't worth the effort. Males like this one can weigh 1,200 pounds and swim for hours without rest.
When people ask what it's like to photograph polar bears, I tell them it's mostly waiting and watching. And then there are moments like this one, when a bear looks right through you and you remember exactly where you stand in the food chain. Photo © copyright by Carl Donohue.