The Advantage Point

The Advantage Point

In the fall of 2019, we were incredibly fortunate to spend time photographing Spirit Bears deep within the Great Bear Rainforest of the Pacific West Coast of Canada - one of the last truly wild places on Earth.

For a week, we stayed within the settlement of Marven Robinson, a guardian of this land and a member of the Gitga'at Nation that has protected it for generations. Each day, Marven guided us by boat along the coast and up remote water systems, bringing us to the streams where he knew the bears would arrive to fish for salmon - fuel essential for the long winter ahead.

From there, we traveled on foot, following well-worn bear trails through the lush temperate rainforest. We climbed over fallen giants, navigated steep slopes, and crossed cold, rushing streams. It was in one of these places that we met Strawberry - a large female Spirit Bear, easily recognized by her cedar-stained coat.

We watched quietly as she moved with intention, carefully choosing her footing. She would pause on certain rocks, elevating herself just enough to study the water below - searching for movement, timing, and opportunity. These vantage points were no accident. They were earned through experience.

Her white coat gave her a remarkable advantage. Unlike black bears, whose dark shadows alert salmon beneath the surface, her white coat blended with the light filtering through the water. From her chosen lookout, her presence was less detectable - stacking the odds in her favour.

Stan captured this moment of balance between patience and precision. It is a portrait of adaptation, instinct, and quiet intelligence - where survival is shaped not by force, but by awareness and position.

— Keltie Masters

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