GRIZZLY BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY
& CAMPBELL RIVER
At my own expense, I offer all of this to you: a humble tribute to Mother Gaia. It is my hope that you will spread my art and message to others, uplifting and inspiring their souls.
May my works guide photographers illuminating their path toward creating stunning and impactful images that show the raw beauty and essence of life in all its transcendent glory. —Pamela Goodyer
CAMPBELL RIVER GRIZZLY BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY
A DAY PHOTOGRAPHING GRIZZLY BEARS FISHING ON SALMON
A SPIRITUAL AND AMAZING DAY
Witnessing grizzly bears in their natural habitat and catching salmon with such power and grace is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on every photographer’s photography list. It’s not just about taking amazing images; it’s about immersing oneself in the majesty of Mother Earth, feeling connected to our planet and all its wondrous creatures. This is a humbling reminder of our place in this magnificent world where we are fortunate to walk.
THE BOAT RIDE
Amidst the chaos of the wildfires in Canada in the summer of 2023, we embarked on our journey. Our boat cut through the waters while the smoke was above us as we passed between towering mountains in the Butte and Toba Inlets. The sight was both awe-inspiring and harrowing, a reminder of the fragility of our existence in the face of nature’s destructive force. As we sailed further into the unknown, I couldn’t help but wonder if the smoke would come down and engulf us, but rest assured, it did not.
ONE NATION GUIDES
The group took breathtaking shots of the majestic grizzly bears. Our guides ensured our safety despite being surrounded by fires as they expertly led us through the wilderness. Their deep connection and understanding of Mother Earth are truly admirable. We were grateful for their culture and history as we experienced a sense of ease in their presence. These incredible leaders from one nation are indeed masters of their craft, keeping us safe from any dangers that may arise during our journey together. Our one guide told us that he once lived on this island.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT CAMPBELL RIVER?
The Fire Department!
Please allow me to tell my story before we discuss photography to show my appreciation.
I dragged myself out of bed before the sun peeked over the horizon, determined to capture the perfect sunrise photograph. Our new drone glinted in the early morning light as we trekked up the steep side of Vancouver Island, eager to start our day-long journey. The drone whirred quietly above me, capturing incredible footage of the lush landscape below. I was so enthralled by my progress that we decided to backtrack and do the entire run again.
But disaster struck as I backed up the drone without paying attention—a crunch echoed through as we collided with a towering pine tree. My heart sank as I watched a man in the distance point up to a thick branch high up in the pine tree. He called us over, pointing towards our now-stranded drone nearly 25 feet in the air.
Panicked and on the verge of tears, I dialed the fire department for help. However, their policy did not include retrieving drones from trees. Desperate for a solution, Pamela Goodyer, whose background included investigating fire departments, mentioned this to the supervisor. In an unexpected turn of events, he made an exception and came to our rescue, saving our day from utter disappointment! (That is the short version, I pleaded in desperation. All the footage from the whole island was on a memory card in the drone for the video we are creating.) LESSON: Besides not backing into a tree, have a second memory card in the controller.
In the USA, the fire department is revered by all, myself included. My stepfather was a brave volunteer fire chief who helped mold me into who I am today. These selfless individuals risk their lives daily to ensure our safety and well-being. Their actions go far beyond just extinguishing fires; they are true heroes in every sense of the word.
THANK YOU, CAMPBELL RIVER FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR SAVING OUR DRONE AND THE VANCOUVER ISLAND FOOTAGE!
BEST TIME TO GO
The highlight of this trip is the grizzly bear photography. You will only see them fishing on the salmon during the season.
For the ultimate experience, take a guided tour by covered boat or floatplane to see the majestic Grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, Knight Inlet, Rivers Inlet, or Bute Inlet at the island’s north end. Guides will bring you to the best vantage points for safely observing these massive brown bears in their natural habitat.
- Early Season: August 20th – 29th, 2024
- September 1st – October 15th, 2024
HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH
If you go on a grizzly bear tour, it is an all-day adventure. The boat ride is about 1.5 hours each way, but you will meet new people and sometimes stop along the way if there are whales in the area. We went on a boat tour, and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. The entire trip went off without a flaw, although, as you can see, we went when the wildfires peaked.
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR TO BRING
Of course, you will need a zoom lens. You will be at a decent distance to get good images like ours. We shot with a 48MP camera and a 100 -400 lens. You will be in a blind with many people on your tour, so hand-holding a 400 mm was a good choice. Call ahead to see if your tour will allow tripods. Bring extra batteries and memory cards. It’s a long day of shooting.
WHAT ELSE TO BRING
Our tour supplied our lunch, snacks, and drinks. We encountered no bugs, but bringing organic bug spray can’t hurt. (We hate toxic chemicals) Wear hiking boots and bring your backpack. There is no long walk, but dressing for the wilderness is advised.
HOW TO GET THERE
BC Ferries:
001 Island Highway, Campbell River, V9W 8C7
Air travel options from Seattle to Vancouver Island
Fly from Seattle, WA (and many other locations) to Victoria or Vancouver, and rent a car there!
Horizon Air Reservations: Toll-free 1-800-547-9308
Air travel options From Vancouver to Campbell River & Comox
WESTJET – www.westjet.ca
Fly WestJet to Comox on Vancouver Island and rent a car (approx. 20 minutes drive (32 km) from airport to resort).
Budget Car Rental: 1-800-268-8900 or 250-754-7368.
National Car Rental 1-800-387-4747 or (250) 923-7278
Fly to Nanaimo or Campbell River on Air Canada Jazz, and rent a car from Budget Car Rental (approx. 1.5 hours drive from Nanaimo Airport to the Resort & 15 minutes from Campbell River Airport).
Budget Car Rental: 1-800-268-8900 or 250-754-7368.
National Car Rental 1-800-387-4747 or (250) 923-7278
WHERE TO STAY
The Oyster Bay Resort! Check out the pictures and details below. We highly recommend staying at this location. SEE PICTURES AND DETAILS BELOW.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEARBY
Nestled in the center of downtown Campbell River lies Fisherman’s Wharf, a bustling area home to popular attractions such as the Discovery Fishing Pier, Maritime Heritage Centre, Campbell River Museum, and Discovery Passage Aquarium. We got a great shot there. Sunrise is incredible when the weather is right on the pier facing the sun in the morning.
HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?
Book your grizzly bear tour well in advance!! Book it for two days if it is rainy if you can afford it. But don’t book them two days in a row. We were exhausted at the end of the day after the grizzly bear photography, and we were in great shape.
PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS
Brush up on the basics.
Shutter Speed – You will shoot in shutter priority when doing grizzly bear photography. Find out more about how to shoot in shutter priority by following the link if you need to. Shutter speed should be at least 1/1000th. If it is sunny, go even higher. When the bears run and slam on the poor fish, you can catch the droplets in great detail if you are 1/1000, 1/1200, or even higher if you have enough light.
Aperture – When shooting in shutter priority, the camera will pick the aperture for you to balance out the exposure.
ISO – This controls how much light is let into your camera when exposing your picture. When you have a lot of sun photographing the bears you will be around 100 ISO. When the bears go into the heavy shade, you may have to go higher.
White Balance – Color temperature. Cloud, shade, or sun, for photographing the bears.
The Oyster Bay Resort
AREA INFORMATION
Campbell River has an abundance of wildlife boat tours.
AREA INFO
There are no fees to visit the Campbell River area, but the boat fees to see the grizzly bears start at about $ 500 per trip. We do two trips on our photo tour.
WILDLIFE AND BOAT TOURS
Hamalco Tours
BOOK DIRECTLY WITH AND SUPPORT FIRST NATION
The ecosystem in and around Homalco territory is unparalleled in its beauty and rich diversity – but it’s also incredibly sensitive. It’s our responsibility, as stewards of these lands and waters, to play our part in protecting the natural environment for generations to come. By joining us on a wilderness or cultural tour, you are directly contributing to the Homalco First Nation’s conservation and sustainability efforts. For more information, visit thier Conservation page.
Guided By Klahoose First Nation and Eagle Eye Adventures
Explore the once-dormant beauty of Toba Inlet with Klahoose Coastal Adventures & Eagle Eye Adventures. After a mesmerizing boat journey through the Inlet’s dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, join our seasoned guides and Klahoose First Nation guides to venture into the heart of Grizzly bear territory.
Call (250) 286-0809
HOTEL INFO
Oyster Bay Resorts
4357 South Island Highway (19A)
Campbell River, BC,
Canada V9H 1B7
4357 South Island Highway (19A)
Campbell River, BC,
Canada V9H 1B7
Reservations
1-888-518-9555
Tel: (250) 923-7413
