The fresh mountain air and ocean views offer any traveler a type of inner-peace often unknown amid the daily adventure of our everyday lives. But to walk in the path of another’s home — where wildlife and bears make the rules — that, in itself, is an adventure of epic proportions.

I have a cheeky friend who told me that I wasn’t close enough and I needed to get over my fear! As it was, my thoughts were, he was going to turn around and charge at me any moment. I have always felt way more comfortable photographing wildlife than humans. There is no posing or egos involved ever. Although I have photographed Elks in rutting season so maybe I should take those words back.

I’ve never been worried about getting the right settings or feeling any kind of fear as I watch in awe nature unfold before my eyes and the desire to capture it and just be in the moment. There are many who will say that wildlife photography is one of the more challenging forms of photography there is, I don’t agree.

copyright Es-tee Miller

“The grizzly bear is six to eight hundred pounds of smugness. It has no need to hide”…Craig Childs