Spirit of the Forest

In the fall of 2019, we were given the rare opportunity to photograph spirit bears in the breathtaking Great Bear Rainforest, a place where wilderness still feels untouched and deeply alive.

Spirit bears, often called the “Ghosts of the Forest,” are not albinos, but a rare form of black bear born from a double recessive gene. For a cub to be white, both parents must carry this hidden genetic trait, making every sighting incredibly special.

We spent the week staying in the remote settlement of Marvin Robinson, a local guardian of this land whose knowledge and respect for the bears runs generations deep. Each day, he guided us by boat through winding coastal channels to quiet streams where the bears would come to fish for salmon, fuel they depend on to prepare for the long winter ahead.

From there, the real journey began.

We followed well-worn bear trails through dense, moss-covered rainforest, stepping over fallen logs, navigating steep terrain, and crossing cold, rushing streams. Every step carried a mix of anticipation and respect, we were entering their world.

And then, in a moment I will never forget…I saw it. My very first spirit bear.

Standing quietly within the forest, its white coat glowing against the deep greens of the rainforest, it felt almost otherworldly, like something not quite real. There was a stillness to the moment, a sense of being fully present in a place where time slows down and nature speaks in silence.

In that instant, I understood why they are called the true spirits of the forest.

It wasn’t just a sighting.

It was an experience that stays with you—long after you’ve left the wilderness behind

-Stan Masters

To download the story CLICK HERE