Iconic Bear Photography: A Photo Shot List for Your Alaskan Adventure

Alaska’s wild landscapes provide a stunning backdrop for capturing unforgettable bear photography, especially in Lake Clark National Park. Whether you’re chasing the golden-hour light or waiting for that perfect bear profile, these moments are the essence of wildlife photography.

Guided by experts like Nat Hab Expedition Leader and Photo Expedition Director Mike Hillman, photographers of every level—and with any kind of gear—have the opportunity to frame extraordinary images that showcase the beauty and power of these inspiring animals.

In the video below, Mike reminds us, “Whatever you happen to have with you is going to be the best camera… it’s all about your eye as an artist.” Explore these essential photo tips, capture the bears in their natural habitat, and return home with a collection of breathtaking memories.

Read on for 11 iconic bear photos you won’t want to miss on your next Alaskan adventure: From close-up details of a bear’s fur and claws to dynamic action shots of bears wrestling, each image tells a story of the bears in their natural habitat and come complete with How To Tips from Mike.

Bear Bums for Katmai National Park’s #FatBearWeek

As the temperature drops in September, it’s time to capture a different angle—bear bums! In early October, Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week celebrates the impressive seasonal preparations made by brown bears as they prepare for winter hibernation.

The #FatBearWeek competition, jointly organized by the National Park Service and Explore.org, draws spectators from around the world to participate by casting online votes for the best bear bum—or the bear that has most effectively accumulated fat reserves. In 2023, AP News called the competition “Alaska’s most-watched popularity contest.”

Tip: Keep an eye on the large, well-fed bears, and don’t be afraid to capture a few humorous shots of their sizable backsides!

Bear Silhouettes in Golden Hour Light

Alaska’s extended summer golden hour provides photographers with unique opportunities to capture stunning bear silhouettes against soft, angled light. The long, gradual sunset offers plenty of time to experiment with effects and perfect your shots.

Even cloud cover can add interesting layers to the image. Mike explains, “Sun coming out through one of the holes in the clouds… is… great. That’ll give us some beautiful kind-of silhouette light for our bears.”  This provides a unique opportunity for silhouette photography, where the bears stand out dramatically against the glowing horizon.

• Look for cloudy breaks: When the sun peeks through the clouds, it creates dramatic lighting.
• Position your camera low: Shooting from a lower angle highlights the bear against the sky.
• Capture multiple shots: Use burst mode to take a series of images as the bear moves.

Tip: Pay close attention to how clouds interact with the light—this can create dynamic shifts in tone and mood for your iconic Alaskan bear silhouette.

Bears in the Landscape: Tell a Broader Story

Incorporating Alaska’s dramatic mountain ranges into your bear photography adds context and grandeur to your images.

Capturing the interaction between the wildlife and the surrounding environment creates a more compelling visual narrative. You can tell a more complex story of the bears in their environment by including Alaska’s stunning mountain ranges, for example, in the shot.

Mike emphasizes the importance of setting: “It’s important here in Lake Clark National Park to not only tell the story of up-close bears but also to tell the story of bears in the landscape. We have the beautiful mountain ranges here in the Aleutian Range as well as the Alaska Range.”

• Frame with the landscape in mind: Position the mountains or other natural elements as a background to your bear subject.
• Use a wide-angle lens: Capture more of the environment to give a sense of scale.
• Look for reflective surfaces: Water bodies and fields can add a layer of depth to your images.

Tip: Use the rule of thirds to balance the bear and the landscape, but don’t hesitate to break the rule when the scene calls for more emphasis on the mountains. If the mountains dominate the scene, focus more on setting up a balanced landscape composition.

Patience for Iconic Bear Profiles

For iconic bear silhouettes, patience is key. Waiting for the perfect moment to capture a clean profile can make all the difference. “You may have to wait for those bears to move into just the right position so they’re silhouetted,” Hillman advises, “so you get that beautiful bear profile.”

A clear silhouette can ensure the bear is instantly recognizable and also highlight its powerful presence in the scene.

• Set your camera in advance: Prepare your settings based on the available light and expected bear movement.
• Wait for the right pose: A clear, recognizable bear profile can elevate your image.
• Shoot in burst mode: This ensures you capture multiple poses during movement.

 Tip: Focus on the angle of the light, and look for moments when the bear’s profile stands out against a softly lit background.

Action Shots: Bears Wrestling

Bears wrestling or play-fighting provides fantastic action shot opportunities. To capture these dynamic moments, Mike recommends starting with “shutter speeds much higher. 1/1000, 1/2000 is oftentimes where you want to start.”

• Increase shutter speed: Start at 1/1000 or 1/2000 to freeze fast movements.
• Use continuous autofocus: This helps keep the wrestling bears in focus as they move.
• Look for playful behavior: Anticipate interactions like play-fighting or sparring.

Tip: Be ready to adjust your aperture and ISO settings as needed to maintain the right exposure in changing light conditions. Quick reflexes and high shutter speeds are key to freezing the action in sharp detail.

Close-Up Shots of Bears’ Faces and Details

Zooming in on the intricate details—like fur, claws, or even the bears’ eyes—brings an intimate perspective to your wildlife shots. This is where precision matters.

“Try close-ups of the fur or some details that make bears, bears… their claws, their ears, their teeth, even their nose,” Mike suggests.

• Use a telephoto lens: Zoom in without disturbing the bear’s natural behavior.
• Focus on texture: Capture the texture of fur or the sharpness of claws.
• Use a mid-range f-stop: Shoot around f/6.3 to f/7.1 for detailed, sharp close-ups.

Tip: Keep your subject sharp by using manual focus if needed, especially for close-ups that highlight small features like the bear’s nose or eyes. Balancing depth of field and sharpness to bring out small features.

Bears in Tall Grass

Photographing bears in tall grass can be challenging, but by adjusting your position and focus, you can create captivating shots.

Mike explains: “The grass is quite tall, and if we’re too low, we’re going to just be mired in the grass. So we’re getting a little bit higher up.”

• Elevate your camera position: Shooting from a higher angle helps keep the bear in focus above the grass.
• Use autofocus tracking: Follow the bear’s movements to maintain clarity in tall grass.
• Manually refocus if needed: Reset focus if the grass obscures the bear or catches the focus.

Tip: If your camera doesn’t have tracking, you can reset focus manually or use back-button focus to ensure clarity in your shot. Try shooting above the bear’s eye level to frame it properly against the grass.

Super Telephoto Shots of Bears

Using a super-telephoto lens allows you to capture close, detailed shots while maintaining a safe distance. These images can offer a unique perspective on the bear’s behavior.

“I’m looking for these bears as they lift their head up from grazing, either looking towards me or looking towards the open side of the frame,” Mike shares about his technique.

• Adjust shutter speed: Use a speed around 1/400 to 1/600, depending on lighting conditions.
• Create bokeh: Lower the f-stop to blur the background to create a beautiful bokeh effect around the subject and make the bear stand out.

Tip: Look for moments when the bear lifts its head or interacts with the environment to create a more dynamic shot.

Vertical Bear Portrait Shots

Switching to portrait mode is an excellent way to emphasize the height and presence of a bear, especially when they are standing or walking toward you.

“It can be very powerful to flip your camera from shooting a typical horizontal or landscape orientation and flipping it to vertical or portrait,” Mike advises.

• Flip your camera vertically: Portrait orientation highlights the bear’s height and stature.
• Focus on the face and eyes: Eye contact with the subject creates a strong visual impact.
• Use shallow depth of field: Isolate the bear from the background for a more dramatic effect. 

Tip: Portrait shots work especially well when the bear is standing or moving toward you, as it fills the frame vertically.

Close-Up Shots of Bears Grazing

Alaska’s wild brown bears‚and the salmon they feed upon—face many threats, but bears grazing offers the chance for more serene close-up shots. Patience is key here, as you wait for the perfect head-lift or interaction with the environment. The trick is “just patiently waiting as they’re grazing, waiting for that head to pick up in just the right moment, and getting that shot,” Mike explains.

• Use continuous shooting mode: Capture a series of images as the bear grazes.
• Watch for head movement: Anticipate when the bear will lift its head for a clean shot.
• Keep your focus on the bear’s face: A slightly blurred background adds to the effect.

Tip: A moderate f-stop will keep the bear in sharp focus while softly blurring the surroundings for a clearer composition.

Bears Against the Landscape

Bears in proximity to the camera provide the perfect opportunity to highlight both the subject and its surroundings.

“Do not only think about those close-ups…now you have an opportunity with a very close bear to really show off the landscape and the background,” Mike suggests.

• Balance bear and landscape: Frame the shot to show the beauty of Alaska’s natural features along with the bear.
• Use a wide-angle lens: Capture more of the environment without losing focus on the bear.
• Include water or mountains: These elements add depth and scale to your composition.

Tip: Keep the bear as the focal point, but use natural elements like mountains and rivers to create a balanced image that tells the full story. Include just enough of the environment to give context without overwhelming the bear in the frame.

Bear Witness to Alaska’s Wild Beauty with Your Iconic Shots

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, there’s nothing quite like capturing iconic bear photos in Alaska. From the serene moments of bears grazing in tall grass to the powerful energy of wrestling siblings, each image tells a unique story of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

The beauty of photographing in places like Lake Clark National Park lies in the variety of opportunities—from wide landscape shots framed by towering mountain ranges to intimate close-ups of bear fur or claws. Mike emphasizes that it’s not about the equipment, but developing your eye and being patient for that perfect moment.

Whether you’re zooming in for a detailed shot or capturing an action-packed wrestling match, bear photography challenges you to be creative and flexible. Every moment spent waiting for the right light, the right angle, or the right bear movement can result in an iconic bear photography image.

For more on Iconic Bear Photography in Alaska

• Check out iconic shots of bear mothers and cubs in photos and video If you’re lucky, this will add a 12th iconic shot to your Alaska brown bar photo shot list.

• Learn more about mastering bear photography from Nat Hab Photo Expedition Director Mike Hillman in a more recent Nat Hab Daily Dose of Nature Webinar: Power & Grace: Mastering Bear Photography in the Wild