Page 86 - World of Animals - Issue #39

Finland

BEHIND

LENS
THE

George Turner

We interviewed photographer George Turner
about his experience living and photographing

wild grizzly bears in eastern Finland

“I’ve always had a fascination with brown bears, “I was quickly taken to my accommodation for
especially because of their legendary status in the the night, a one-person hide. What ensued was
chronicles of European history. These days bears the most memorable wildlife encounter of my life.
have all but vanished from the forests of Europe “Within one minute of the guide leaving, there

apart from one place... eastern Finland. In fact, it were bears at every angle. At first they were
has the highest concentration of European brown tentative, but soon came within 30 centimetres of
bears on the entire continent. The second I read my hide, so close that I was shooting with a wide-
about it, I booked within the hour. angle for the most part! Despite the 40 degree
“So, in mid-July of this year, I found myself deep Celcius heat and mosquitos, I’ve never felt more
in the Suomussalmi Forest on the Finnish-Russian serene. Exhilarating doesn’t come close.
border in bear country. Hiking with our guides into “The look on the male bear’s face (right)
the forest, every step genuinely felt like we were perfectly encapsulates the brown bear. He has so

making waves into Europe’s final frontier; this area much expression across his face - along with his
is so remote that it’s avoided human disturbance human-like pose - showing the depth of emotion
allowing wildlife (including bears!) to flourish. that these beautiful animals feel.”

“Around two kilometres into the hike, our guide
received a radio call from his one of his colleagues
some 500 metres ahead up the trail. There were George Turner
bears. Lots of them. He instructed us to move WWW.GEORGETHEEXPLORER.COM

swiftly - but not frantically - and not to take To find out more about George Turner’s work,
photos. We’d have plenty of time for that later. We visit his website and check out his photography,
from otters in Scotland to puffi ns in Iceland.

moved on and came to the crest of a small hill… Location:
there they were, some 30 European brown bears Suomussalmi Forest, on the Finnish-
foraging without a care in the world. I’ve never felt Russian border
Camera used: Nikon D700
my heart beat faster. Canon EOS 6D with a 24-70mm lens
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