New Release: Water & Stone

Alaska: The Final Frontier

2025 marked my first trip to Alaska and it did not disappoint. I had visions of what this place might look like and had of course spent hours researching, but nothing prepares you for the views, the space or indeed the wildlife.

We had 10 days in this stunning corner of the world to create some new work and some new memories for the six wonderful guests I had with me. Many of whom keen photographers, all of whom curious, passionate people.

Getting The Shot

Five of these days would be spent at Tutka Bay Lodge, the base from which we would explore Katmai National Park and go in search of coastal brown bears, the largest of all brown bears. Too often stories that start like this end with 'and on the last light of the last day we got the shot'. Here this could not have been farther from the truth as the moment almost fell in to my lap on the first day.

We left Tutka Bay by float plane, taking off over a sea so calm it was impossible to distinguish from a runway take off.

The flight in to Katmai is as exciting as the bear viewing awaiting us - a blanket of green spread between sea and mountain stretching out below our feet. Some of the group sleep, we've been in the country for seven days now and it's catching up with many of us.

"Whatever you do, do not run."

Everyone's awake as we come in to land though, the pilot circling the bay a couple of times to check where the bears are and from our windows in the back we see two. Impossible at this height and distance to distinguish their sex, but neither are small.

Once on the ground we are given our final safety briefing by Ross, our pilot and guide: "Whatever you do, do not run" - words I have heard in a host of languages now in numerous situations - and head in the direction of where we spotted the bears.

The first one we find is a sow or a she-bear. These animals are generationally habituated - meaning they are used to being around humans - but we are right at the start of the season, so it might have been months since her last interaction with another person.

As we are not yet in salmon season she is feeding on the sedge grass - and you can tell it's been a long winter as she barely gives us a glance for all the food she's eating. This does not bother me in the slightest though as it means we can approach steadily closer and watch as she eventually heads in to the river to cool down - she's still got her winter coat, so despite the relatively cool air temperatures she'll be hot.

"Lights. Camera. Action."

As she entered the water I lined up the shot I was after, hoping to include some of the white capped ridges behind her, and waited as she slept in the steady flow of water.

It did not take long her for her to stand, shake off the water and happily, quite by chance, stare straight down my camera lens. I could not have asked for more, at the water droplets just add a layer to the image even the best stylist could struggle to place better.

Prints are available from McKay Williamson (London), Yield Gallery (London/ Dubai) and ARTITLEDcontemporary (Netherlands). For more information please email info@williamfortescue.com