We started out by boarding their company plane early in the morning at the Winnipeg private hanger. I was allowed to wander around the runway, which felt pretty strange honestly. The people boarding here were shooting a 3D film about polar bears.
We headed North over some beautiful Manitoba lakes and rivers during sunrise.
This is Luke Tedaldi - a filmmaker from NYC. We worked together for a few months prior. He was shooting film, and I took care of the stills.
This little husky pup was chained up to a store on the main drag in Churchill all day, every day. Apparently the owner leaves a puppy outside to attract tourists, or so I was told. It was really heartbreaking. Several locals told me such stories, so I made it a point to give him as much attention and love as I could while I was there.
He seemed endlessly fascinated with the inside of my boots
Churchill is all polar bears.
We headed out to an old fort with canons facing the bay from early Canadian history. These guys patrolled the area and had huge shotguns on them at all times for the inevitable bear encounters they face day to day.
The first day I spent exploring the town. The railway is a key port in the town.
This plane is dubbed 'Peggy. Apparently it took off way overloaded, turned around and didn't quite make it back to the landing strip.
Churchill has a polar bear jail. Any bears found in the town are locked up until the ice comes, then they are let back into the wild for the winter.
Luke setting up for a video vignette
This was my hotel room. I spent many many hours here trying to save corrupted memory cards that got soaked by the wet snow while shooting. Thankfully I was successful.
This was the first bear I saw. I was expecting to see endless white tundra. Chalk it up to be niave - the snow was a few weeks away.
Luke shooting the town
Cool old snow...thing
Guests arriving via rail.
Heading out to the tundra for the first time in a Tundra Buggy. It's basically a school bus with monster truck tires. So cool
Holes in the ice? Who cares, straight through!
This little guy was hanging out right beside our path.
People up there always say there is nothing like looking into the eyes of a polar bear for the first time. I fully agree.
This is the Tundra Lodge. It's kinda like a train, only with massive tires.
Luke and I were working 18 hour days. We got a little stupid looking after a while.
Walking through the halls of the Tundra Buggy generator room to join the crew for an end-of-the-day drink.
We were very lucky to have seen some baby bears. This one was curious and adventurous, often wandering away from its mother.
But they were still good pals.
And liked to copy each other.
So beautiful.
This just gives you an idea of how close you can get.
How do you stay entertained for 10 hours sitting on a bus all day in the cold? Guys like this.
Ready to pounce. Bears pretend to be sleeping or lazy until prey comes within striking distance. They are very cunning carnivorous. I've even heard of them covering their black noses with snow for camouflage.
Each guide has their own way of attracting the bears curiosity
Anytime anyone goes on the ground, shotguns are in hand.
This guy was basically the polar bear whisperer.
On board the buggy.
Finally, snow!
I've never been around so many photographers at once before.
I love this guide's face. Kinda Clint Eastwood-esque
Telephoto lenses everywhere
This bear was particularly ghostly.
Hard to believe these guys can be so goofy when they're also so vicious.
Ouch.
Brian, our guide, took us everywhere. He was amazing, Luke and I owe him so much.
Luke in the waning hours.
The weather finally started coming in.
Life saver.
Bears playing.
The bears love to spar. It's how they get strong and ready for hunting during the long winter. It's all in good fun, but sometimes they get really, REALLY aggressive.
Lots of bears = happy guests
It was so wet with the snow, I had to improvise some waterproof camera techniques...
Tundra Buggy up close
Other than watching bears, you can also go dog sledding in Churchill. I've always liked Huskies, but it wasn't until Churchill that I truly fell in love with them. Something about these dogs... wow. I don't know what it is, but they are so amazing. And the level of trust they have with their owner is amazing. At a word, they drop on their backs and show one foot at a time while he would pull the ice from their paws and check them for muscle strains. Their relationship was amazing.
OBVIOUSLY this guy was my favorite. He looks like he's up to something.
The second a harness comes into view, all the dogs loose it. They run around and howl and jump with excitement hoping it's their turn to pull. If they don't get picked, they get all sad and mope about. Once their tied to the sled, they jump a few feet in the air and tug until the sled is cut loose.
The puppies looked sad to be stuck inside.
So we kept them company..
Ready to go!
Here's my favorite guy again! And the white dog next to him is his father. Both have the coldest blue eyes I've ever seen.
Father.
Son.
Goofing around.
I also shot some portraits of the guides. In near gale-force winds. Here luke straining to keep my lights from blowing away. A great time for a photo of him.
The result.
Just outside of town. Look closely...
Luke went for a closer look and sunk to his waist.
Always a guide at our side.
Can't wait to go back some day.
1 comments:
As always, an awesome pictorial recount of your experience, Mark. Very cool.
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