Wild Brown Bears of Finland: Summer Cubs

THUS FAR, ALL ATTENDEES ARE MALE. THEREFORE, DUE TO HIDE SHARING LOGISTICS, SHOULD YOU BE FEMALE, UNLESS YOU ARE A COUPLE OR HAVE A FRIEND WISHING TO SHARE, YOU WILL BE IN A HIDE ALONE.

Photographing wild brown bears in Finland is an unforgettable experience and one which, even 10 years on, I never tire of. Imagine, if you will, sitting in a hide overlooking a cotton grass-filled swamp, a misty lake or a lush pine forest, and then suddenly, right before you, a mother brown bear followed by her adorable cubs. Already, you are smiling, aren't you?! I hope you can join me on what is sure to be a wildlife photography tour to remember.

EUROPE'S PREMIER LOCATION
Situated in central-eastern Finland, the location for this brown bears of Finland photography tour is renowned as being the best place in Europe for photographing wild bears, and in particular, cubs. It's their sheer numbers, activity and the variety of different hides and positions that make this the stand-out venue for photography of Europe's largest predator.

On this 6-day adventure, you will experience how a professional nature photographer works when photographing bears. Not through using large public hides that are on offer but smaller 2-person pro hides. On this brown bear photography tour, for 4 nights we have exclusive use of a number of such hides strategically positioned within a swamp, adjacent to a lake and in a forest that will provide a wide range of different perspectives and situations from (potentially!) tiny cubs climbing trees to a full-grown 700lb male making his way across a wide-open marsh backlit by the rising or setting sun. 

TIMING
I've scheduled this tour to not only coincide with round-the-clock daylight but also with the flowering of cotton grass whose fluffy white heads look especially wonderful when backlit. 

Each day we follow the same pattern where following an early meal at 3pm we make our way, by minibus, to the hides. From here we walk to the specially prepared hides overlooking areas where food has regularly been put out to entice the bears for the last 20 years. We are no longer in our wake when light, sleep when dark world but now in theirs where they are most active from late afternoon and through the night until early morning. But remember, we are in the far north where, during this time, it never gets totally dark.

HIDE SHARING AND FACILITIES
The 2-person pro-hides we use are designed to be moved throughout the seasons. Therefore, due to their size (4x2x1.75m) the only toilet facilities available are the use of a small camping toilet within the hide itself. Because of this, I can obviously only allow same-sex photographers or couples in the same hide. Therefore, the resulting numbers may dictate that you be in a hide on your own. Please let me know if this is of concern to you. 
Number ones, only! The other, only in extreme circumstances. Should you have stomach issues where this would pose a problem then you should seriously consider whether this tour is for you. After all, you'll be sharing with someone else!    

HIDE ETIQUETTE
The bears can arrive at any moment, so as soon as you are in the hide it's wise to set up your camera gear as quickly as possible. Throughout your time in the hide, you must be quiet and still, and only whisper for the bears do not mind the clicking of shutters (for you noisy DSLR owners out there!) and slow movement of lenses, but can be easily scared by talking, laughing and coughing. Also, although I appreciate pretty much everyone makes some noise while snoozing, if you're inclined to snore then I am afraid you will be woken by your hide partner who has my express permission to do so since the greater good of the group as a whole comes before anybody’s beauty sleep! If you're loud and persistent (ask your partner/family member if you're at all unsure, or record yourself!), then I am afraid this tour is not for you!