Title: Nirvana
Photographer: Chase Teron
Location: Great Bear Rainforest 2021 September
Caption: Imagine exploring a place so remote, so quiet that is so full of life and abundance. The absence of mass human populations in the Great Bear Rainforest are imperative to the Great Bear's habitat and its ability to thrive. This image is entitled "Nirvana" because when watching the bear in its element, there were no stresses, concerns and only a display of unconscious survival instincts and natural behaviours. Like a photograph, it's a fleeting moment captured in a brief moment of time and like the title, Nirvana for these bears is a fleeting moment. Fleeting Nirvana as habitat destruction is imminent.
We were able to watch this bear hunt and fish in the river during the autumn salmon run and to observe completely natural behaviour.
Although settlements of human populations would have an obvious impact on the Great Bear, it's the impact from the few participants of the habitat destruction that will have the greatest impact the health of these bear populations. What's ironic about this particular area is that to get here after a long boat ride, you must drive down a gravel road that is used equally with the heli-logging companies.
Chase Teron & Jenni Lisacek
printed on Giclée Hahnemühle Photo Rag