One brief glance from a bear like this will stay with you forever. There is so much TRUST leading to a moment like this on our Alaska photo tour last month: - Trust placed in us (and in the bears) from the National Parks Service allowing this tiny part of this one special remote bay to be exempt from the general Parks rule of people having to stay 50m away from bears feeding on a concentrated food source (here, the salmon) - Trust from my photo tour guests that I wouldn’t lead them into a situation like this if it wasn’t safe; - Trust from me that my guests will behave as I have taught them; - Trust in the bears after almost a decade of being a bear guide, reading their communication through postures and other signals and ensuring we as a small group always respond appropriately and respectfully (and being very mindful of the constantly evolving situation); - And perhaps most importantly, the huge trust that this bear is placing in us, having observed us sitting there peacefully and quietly for hours (well done team!), so he finally summoned the courage to pass right by us, throwing us just one brief glance to reassure himself that we really are trustworthy as he passes, not dissimilar to the quick glance my guests flick at me to check I am still calm and that they should stay sitting there. - It’s only when everyone does everything correctly for long enough, that this kind of trust develops and a moment like this can happen. This same bear will give a wide berth around a group that isn’t quiet, isn’t patient, isn’t calm, isn’t trustworthy. - It’s moments and connections like these that stay with you forever, and make you realize how incredibly special this is, and how much we need to help protect the natural world. - If you’d like to experience something like this (as well as puffins, and sea otters and eagles and glaciers and so much more) there are still some places left on my 2 week Alaska photo tour August 2023! - #bears #wildlifephotography @wildlifeplanet @bbcearth #brownbear