Waiting for Sockeye in the Far Pool

As we arrived at the viewing platform for our second visit to Brooks Falls, our guides suggested we try something different. Photographing wildlife in slow motion is no easy task and what better time to try it than at my very first workshop. No pressure, right? I am unsure if this male brown bear is #32 (lovingly known as "Chunk") or #747, an equally large bear with dark brown coloration in the fall. Regardless of identification, this big boy dominated the far pool for much of the time we were shooting and barely had to move a few inches to snag a fish. It isn't uncommon for males to reach over 1,000 pounds by the end of the salmon run and their excess body mass gives them an advantage during hibernation. This photo was taken in early September a week or two before Katmai closed for the season and I am sure he didn't struggle recovering from his slumber during those cold winter months.