In September 2024, amidst the untamed beauty of Chilko Lake in northern British Columbia, I captured a series of images that tell the story of grizzly bears in the primal landscapes they have called home for millennia. Here, ancient rivers carve through valleys wreathed in mist, dense forests rise like sentinels, and the air hums with the timeless rhythms of the wild. It is a world where grizzlies reign, their presence inseparable from the raw, unyielding land that sustains them.
Each image offers a glimpse into this primal realm. Fur glistens with the sheen of river spray as they wade through glacial-fed waters, paws leave imprints in the loamy earth, and eyes—wise, piercing, untamed—glint with the reflections of their vast dominion. These bears are not just part of the landscape; they are the landscape, bound to it by instinct, ritual, and necessity. In this world of bramble and bark, shadows and sun, the grizzly embodies both power and fragility, thriving in the delicate equilibrium that defines the wilderness.
But this harmony is precarious. The grizzlies of British Columbia are now divided into 55 distinct population units, many under threat. Human encroachment—roads splitting the forests, towns pressing against the wild, industries scarring the earth—has fractured their ancient territories. Their "forever land" grows smaller with every passing year, and with it, their ability to survive. These incursions disrupt migration routes, diminish food sources, and force bears into dangerous proximity with human activity, a proximity that too often proves fatal.
Through this series, I hope to evoke the visceral beauty of the grizzlies’ existence and the wild spaces they inhabit. The rugged terrain of Chilko Lake—its jagged peaks, roaring rivers, and whispering forests—stands as a reminder of what is at stake. Each frame is a testament to a world that feels eternal yet is increasingly vulnerable, a plea to preserve the harmony between these creatures and the land that defines them.
The grizzlies of Chilko Lake are more than symbols of the wild; they are its heartbeat. To lose them is to sever a primal connection to the earth, to silence a voice that speaks of resilience, reverence, and the raw power of nature. These photographs are both a tribute and a call to action—to protect the grizzlies, to safeguard their home, and to honor the ancient balance that allows us all to endure.
In September 2024, amidst the untamed beauty of Chilko Lake in northern British Columbia, I captured a series of images that tell the story of grizzly bears in the primal landscapes they have called home for millennia. Here, ancient rivers carve through valleys wreathed in mist, dense forests rise like sentinels, and the air hums with the timeless rhythms of the wild. It is a world where grizzlies reign, their presence inseparable from the raw, unyielding land that sustains them.
Each image offers a glimpse into this primal realm. Fur glistens with the sheen of river spray as they wade through glacial-fed waters, paws leave imprints in the loamy earth, and eyes—wise, piercing, untamed—glint with the reflections of their vast dominion. These bears are not just part of the landscape; they are the landscape, bound to it by instinct, ritual, and necessity. In this world of bramble and bark, shadows and sun, the grizzly embodies both power and fragility, thriving in the delicate equilibrium that defines the wilderness.
But this harmony is precarious. The grizzlies of British Columbia are now divided into 55 distinct population units, many under threat. Human encroachment—roads splitting the forests, towns pressing against the wild, industries scarring the earth—has fractured their ancient territories. Their "forever land" grows smaller with every passing year, and with it, their ability to survive. These incursions disrupt migration routes, diminish food sources, and force bears into dangerous proximity with human activity, a proximity that too often proves fatal.
Through this series, I hope to evoke the visceral beauty of the grizzlies’ existence and the wild spaces they inhabit. The rugged terrain of Chilko Lake—its jagged peaks, roaring rivers, and whispering forests—stands as a reminder of what is at stake. Each frame is a testament to a world that feels eternal yet is increasingly vulnerable, a plea to preserve the harmony between these creatures and the land that defines them.
The grizzlies of Chilko Lake are more than symbols of the wild; they are its heartbeat. To lose them is to sever a primal connection to the earth, to silence a voice that speaks of resilience, reverence, and the raw power of nature. These photographs are both a tribute and a call to action—to protect the grizzlies, to safeguard their home, and to honor the ancient balance that allows us all to endure.
