There is nothing quite like the adrenaline of being close to two coastal brown bears when they start to get rowdy.
We had been observing their behaviour from a safe distance and weren’t taking many photos at first because they were pointed away from us. Then everything changed. As they shifted and moved closer, their energy escalated — bringing the action right into range.
What looked intense never became dangerous. No injuries — just natural play fighting and strength testing. They stayed mostly within a small ditch, which helped contain the interaction but also hid much of it from view. We were ecstatic when everything lined up, and they engaged parallel to us, giving everyone the images they had been hoping for.
Moments like this aren’t rare in early June on the Katmai coast — but they’re never guaranteed. That’s the reality of working with truly wild animals, and part of what makes experiences like this so rewarding when it all comes together.
If this is the kind of behaviour you’ve been hoping to photograph, my June Ultimate Brown Bear workshop is timed specifically for it — before the sedge grass grows tall, when visibility is still excellent and interactions like this are at their peak.
👉 Details and availability:
https://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com/bear-boat-coastal-brown-bears-of-alaska
