Onlookers

One of the things I love most about photographing bears is watching the cubs. There’s something so genuine about their curiosity. Time and time again, I find their eyes locked right onto me through the lens. It’s a stark contrast to the adults, who rarely make eye contact, and for good reason. With mature bears, a direct stare can be a sign of aggression.

But these little ones… curiosity got the best of them.

This moment unfolded at the start of the salmon run, when their mother had brought them down to the river to feed on the protein-rich fish she needed to prepare for winter hibernation. It’s very possible we were among the first humans these cubs had ever encountered.

Standing there, quietly observing, I couldn’t help but feel a connection in that shared curiosity. Their steady gaze, safely under the watchful presence of their mother, left me just as captivated by them as they seemed to be by me.

 - Stan Masters

To download the story CLICK HERE