“Close enough to hear the rhythm of her breath, to see the rise and fall of muscle beneath fur—and yet, not a ripple of fear between us. Just the raw, wild understanding that we belonged to different worlds, momentarily bridged by stillness.”
— Field Notes, Chilko Lake
“Armed only with instinct, my D9, a 400 mm lens, and my love for storytelling, I slipped into Chilko Lake’s mist‑laden valleys to capture grizzlies paused at the river’s edge—fur glistening with glacial spray, eyes holding ancient wisdom. This collection seeks to reveal each encounter within the pure beauty of their world: bears camouflaged beneath brambles and broken branches, woven into a tapestry of land visited and left undisturbed. These creatures are the land’s heartbeat, thriving in a fragile balance now frayed by roads and settlements. Each frame is both tribute and plea: protect their forever home before their wild song falls silent.”
— Chilko Lake, Nikki September 2024 , Northern British Columbia
