Wildlife photographer Nick Dale captured a remarkable moment at Brooks Falls, Alaska, where brown bears demonstrate their unique salmon-catching technique of standing on the waterfall’s edge and snatching fish as they swim upstream.
Despite spending a week at Brooks Falls during the yearly salmon migration, Dale encountered difficulties capturing his desired shots, as Alaska’s chilly and damp summer presented obstacles.
Despite the obstacles, capturing the ideal shot was still a daunting task. After numerous attempts, Dale managed to snap two photos that met his expectations.
The brown bear was positioned in shallow water, anticipating the perfect moment to snatch a mid-air salmon, and all that was left was for Dale to press the shutter button.
As they move upstream to reproduce, salmon are targeted by brown bears. The challenging Alaskan rivers create significant hurdles for these fish, who must go airborne to navigate upstream, leaving them vulnerable to bear attacks.
While the experience was extraordinary, it was also exceptionally infrequent. Arranging the trip was difficult, and every morning, I had to take a float plane to the lodge.
However, if you’re fortunate enough to go, I suggest you enter the lottery and hope for the best. Photographing brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls is one of the most fantastic experiences a wildlife photographer can have.
Salmon are fish that possess a high fat content, allowing bears to optimize their calorie intake despite consuming a seemingly small meal.
Capturing the quintessential shot of a bear with its mouth agape, catching a midair salmon was my objective. However, obtaining the shot was no easy task.
As I clicked the camera button, I couldn’t help but be awestruck by nature’s magnificence.