Tips on Photographing Polar Bears in Churchill
by Steve Barger

Are you looking for an accessible place to go where you can photograph Polar Bears? A place that has a high concentration of bears easily photographed? No, the place is not your local zoo (although the zoos can provide some good “head shot” opportunities). The area I am referring to is Churchill, Manitoba, the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.”

Churchill is a unique small town, with a population of approximately 1,000 residents. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Churchill River, about 600 air miles from Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. Since there are no roads to Churchill, it can only be reached by air, rail, or boat. Boasting the only inland saltwater port in Canada, Churchill serves as the transportation hub for the northern communities of Canada. The area also has a strong arctic research presence with the Churchill Northern Studies Center and the Institute of Arctic Ecophysiology.

The largest industry in Churchill is tourism. From late May to August, Churchill becomes a bird watcher’s paradise. Various species of birds, including the rare Ross’ Gull, can be spotted on the tundra. During the summer months from mid-June through August, Beluga whales gather in the Hudson Bay to give birth. In the winter, Churchill is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. However, Churchill is best known for the fall gathering of polar bears. From mid-October to mid-November, Polar Bears gather on the shores of the Hudson Bay waiting for the water to freeze so that they can venture out on the ice to hunt seals.

The only practical way to view and photograph polar bears is from the safety of a “Tundra Buggie.” These vehicles are specially built to negotiate the uneven tundra inhabited by the bears. A “Tundra Buggy,” which is similar a bus with oversize off-road tires and a heavy-duty suspension and transmission, moves very slowly over the tundra. All polar bear photography will be done from the buggie making a telephoto zoom lens the lens of choice.

A telephoto zoom lens in the 100 to 400mm range will enable you to zoom in for those tight portrait shots or zoom out to include the polar bear in its environment. There will be opportunities to capture interaction between bears, including bears playfully wrestling one another and sows with cubs. To capture this action on film, (conventional or digital) a fast lens in the f/4.0 range and an ISO of 200 will prove beneficial. To obtain sharp images when photographing from the “Tundra Buggie” you will need to have a stable platform to support your camera. Either a bean bag, such as The SAC, placed between the camera and window sill, or a window mount with a ball head attached will provide a good support. However, you will still need to pack a tripod for photographing the scenery around town. The ride in the “Tundra Buggie” is not only slow but can be rough. Make sure that you have your camera securely held in your lap before the buggie begins to move. Your equipment will suffer damage if it falls on the floor or outside the vehicle while moving.

To properly expose the light-toned polar bears, meter the fur of the bear and open up about 1 to 1 1/3 stops, depending on the tonality of the bear. You will find that the tonality of polar bears varies slightly from very light in color to a light cream color. Be careful not to include “Tundra Buggie” tracks in the snow in your images. If you are trying to depict the polar bear in its wild environment, you don’t want an image with a polar bear standing in a big Tundra Buggie tire track in the snow.

In addition to polar bears, the Churchill area offers opportunities to photograph arctic foxes, snowy owls, ptarmigan in their white winter coats, and spectacular tundra scenery. A wide angle zoom lens in the 28 to 80mm range will allow you to capture images of the arctic landscape.

The weather in Churchill can be extreme. You should pack a warm hat and pair of gloves, insulated snow boots, parka or a thick fleece jacket, heavy pants and shirt, insulated underwear, and maybe a sweater. Remember, it is best to dress in layers. The temperature may be between 0 and 32 degrees F, but the wind chill on the tundra will make it seem much colder. Also remember that you will have the buggie windows open when photographing, so at times you will feel like you are in a wind tunnel.

Remember to bring plenty of batteries. The cold weather is a drain on batteries, too. You might consider packing chemical hand and foot warmers to keep your hands, feet, and batteries warm. Pack what you think you will need. There are not many places in Churchill to shop for clothes or supplies.

Polar bears are dangerous animals that must be respected. When in the buggy, keep all hands and arms inside the vehicle. You never know when a bear will walk up unnoticed by the side of the buggie. With their powerful claws all it takes is one quick swipe to sever an arm. Remember, even though you are only a few miles from town, it could take hours to reach the hospital. Whether in the buggie or walking around town or photographing from the road outside of town be watchful for the presence of bears.

Churchill is the only location I know where you will see such a large concentration of Polar Bears that can be approached safely in a “Tundra Buggie” and so easily photographed in their wild environment. Churchill is truly the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.”