Animals Galleries

ANIMALS ANIMALS : You will find some of my favorite animals in this gallery. Along the way, I will share a few stories of my experiences with them. Explore all you want and get to know some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet.

ANIMALS ANIMALS

You will find some of my favorite animals in this gallery. Along the way, I will share a few stories of my experiences with them. Explore all you want and get to know some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet.

Updated: Jul 14, 2008 6:30pm PST

DEBBY THE OLDEST POLAR BEAR IN THE WORLD : The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was the long time home of Debby the polar bear. Debby was born in the Russian Arctic in 1966, and arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo as an orphaned cub in 1967, Canada's centennial year. In 2008, the Guinness Book of World Records officially listed her as the oldest polar bear in the world at over 42 years of age. In the wild, most polar bears do not live much beyond 20 years, although older bears have been documented. Debby was actually the third-oldest bear of any of the eight species of bears ever recorded. Over the years, Debby had been admired by millions of people from around the globe. As her age increased, so did her reputation, and people increasingly flocked to see the famous bear before she died. Sadly, that day came on November 17, 2008, when Debby had to be put down because of multiple organ failure. I was privileged to photograph Debby on July 17, 2007, just a bit more than a year before her death. As you can see from my portfolio of photos, Debby could still be quite frisky in the water. She seemed to enjoy shaking her head after a dive and sending water flying in all directions. The need for a new set of dentures didn't keep her from smiling obligingly for my camera. It was a delight to capture her friendly and playful personality in my photographs.

DEBBY THE OLDEST POLAR BEAR IN THE WORLD

The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was the long time home of Debby the polar bear. Debby was born in the Russian Arctic in 1966, and arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo as an orphaned cub in 1967, Canada's centennial year. In 2008, the Guinness Book of World Records officially listed her as the oldest polar bear in th ...

Updated: Dec 14, 2008 3:08pm PST

POLAR BEARS 2008 : POLAR BEARS OF SEAL RIVER LODGE Polar bears are among my favourite subjects, and I have spent a lot of time photographing them. Unlike most photographers of the bears, I have done most of my shooting from ground level. All of the photos in this gallery were done through Seal River Heritage Lodge run by Churchill Wild. The bears in fireweed were done from a camp set up on a small island off the coast of Hudson Bay well north of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The winter bears were shot at Seal River Lodge, which runs polar bear viewing camps for a variety of guests during parts of October and November each year. It is a place I have visited often in summer, but winter is truly spectacular there. The repeating tides cover the rocky coastal landscape as winter approaches with a surreal coating of ice that is breath-taking at times. Add fog and early winter storms to the mix, and the wildlife photo opportunities are nothing short of incredible. Clear sunrise mornings are okay too! Although this gallery features only the bears of 2008, the arctic foxes, caribou, and northern lights would probably make the trip worthwhile in their own right. I would rate this location well ahead of a Churchill-only trip if you want a truly remarkable wildlife experience away from all the trappings of town, except for a comfortable bed and fabulous food!

POLAR BEARS 2008

BIRDS I HAVE KNOWN : My passion for photography began with an early love affair with birds. They are not only beautiful, but represent the freedom from the bonds of earth and gravity that has made mankind want to fly since time began. The more I watched birds, the more I wanted to photograph them, and I am sharing some of my favourites with you here.

BIRDS I HAVE KNOWN

My passion for photography began with an early love affair with birds. They are not only beautiful, but represent the freedom from the bonds of earth and gravity that has made mankind want to fly since time began. The more I watched birds, the more I wanted to photograph them, and I am sharing some of my favourites with you here.

Updated: Jul 14, 2008 7:42pm PST