A Guide to Bear Photography in Finland's Summer Time

Welcome to the enchanting world of bear photography in Finland, where the pristine landscapes and diverse ecosystems create a perfect canvas for capturing the untamed beauty of these majestic creatures. This detailed guide to bear photography will delve into choosing suitable locations, understanding optimal timing, selecting essential photography gear, ensuring safety, and embracing the patience required to unveil the secrets of Finland's summer bears.

Choosing The Right Location

Selecting the perfect location is the cornerstone of a successful bear photography expedition in Finland. Each location offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities, so understanding the nuances of these environments is crucial for capturing stunning photographs.

Liesjärvi National Park

Explore the Häme Lake Uplands, where Liesjärvi National Park's serene lakes and dense forests offer a captivating backdrop for bear photography. - Collaborate with local guides who intimately know the park's terrain and the bears' preferred haunts.

Considerations:

Diversity of Habitats: Liesjärvi National Park boasts a mix of lakes, forests, and wetlands, providing a rich tapestry for varied bear behaviour.

Accessibility: The park is relatively accessible, making it suitable for both seasoned wildlife photographers and those new to the field.

Versatility: The diverse habitats increase the likelihood of encountering bears engaged in different activities, from swimming in lakes to foraging in forests.

Martimoaapa Mire

Venture to the remote Martimoaapa Mire Conservation Area near the Russian border for a unique setting amidst expansive mires and rugged landscapes. - Plan your visit with the help of local experts to navigate the challenging yet rewarding terrains.

Factors:

Remote Wilderness: Martimoaapa is a remote area near the Russian border, offering an untouched wilderness experience.

Unique Landscapes: The expansive mires and rugged terrain provide a fantastic backdrop for captivating bear photographs. -

Unique Perspectives: The remoteness ensures a more authentic and less disturbed bear-watching experience, allowing for amazing photographic opportunities.

Oulanka National Park

Head north to Oulanka National Park, a haven of diverse ecosystems, including forests, rivers, and waterfalls. Go deep into the park, maximising your chances of encountering bears in their natural habitat.

Points:

Diverse Ecosystems: Oulanka National Park features diverse ecosystems, including forests, rivers, and waterfalls.

Northern Location: The park's north location enhances the chance of observing bears against the backdrop of the enchanting northern lights during the extended summer days.

Photographic Diversity: The mix of ecosystems provides a range of settings for capturing bears in different environments, offering a comprehensive portrayal of their behaviour.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Location

Wildlife Density: Research the population density of bears in each location to increase your chances of encounters. Higher densities often result in more opportunities for unique shots.

Regulations and Permits: Familiarise yourself with local regulations and obtain necessary permits. Some areas may have restrictions to protect both wildlife and photographers.

Seasonal Changes: Consider how seasonal changes impact the landscape and bear behaviour. Understanding these fluctuations allows you to plan your visit during optimal conditions.

Photographic Accessibility: Evaluate the accessibility of potential photography spots. Ensure you can safely reach your chosen location and position yourself effectively for optimal shots.

Accommodation Options: Check for nearby accommodations that cater to wildlife photographers. Proximity to the chosen location can maximise your time in the field and improve your overall experience.

Weather Considerations: Research the typical weather conditions during the summer months in each location. Be prepared for weather changes, and choose locations that align with your photographic preferences.

Choosing the right location involves balancing these factors. By thoroughly researching and considering these aspects, you'll be better equipped to select an area that aligns with your photographic goals.

Timing is Key

Understanding the optimal timing for bear photography in Finland is essential to maximise your chances of witnessing and capturing captivating moments. Different seasons and times of the day offer unique lighting conditions and bear behaviours, allowing you to craft a diverse and compelling portfolio.

Midsummer to Early Autumn

Variables:

Extended Daylight Hours: Finland experiences long daylight hours during midsummer and early autumn, providing ample time for photography. You can maximise your time and take pictures all day and night with twenty-four-hour daylight.

Active Bear Behaviour: Bears are generally more active during this period, fishing, foraging, and exploring their territories.

Golden Hours: The hours around sunrise and sunset offer soft, warm lighting that enhances the visual appeal of your photographs.

Reduced Harsh Shadows: The sun's low angle during golden hours minimises harsh shadows, allowing for better visibility and detail in your shots.

Aesthetic Quality: Golden hour lighting adds a magical quality to your images, creating a more enchanting and visually appealing narrative.

Spring and Early Summer

Points:

Spring and Early Summer Mating: Bears engage in mating behaviours during spring and early summer, resulting in potential displays of courtship and competition.

Mating Rituals: Observation during mating seasons can unveil intriguing social dynamics and interactions between bears.

Behavioural Dynamics: Capturing mating behaviours provides a deeper insight into the social structure and interactions within the bear community.

Understanding Bear Behaviour

Comprehending the nuances of bear behaviour is paramount for a wildlife photographer seeking to capture authentic and evocative images. Various factors, including seasons, mating cycles, and food availability, influence the behaviour of Finnish bears. With this knowledge, photographers can anticipate movements and interactions, significantly enhancing the likelihood of capturing compelling moments.

Seasonal Behaviours:

Spring Awakening: Bears emerge from hibernation, often with cubs in spring. This period presents opportunities to capture intimate family moments.

Summer Foraging: During the summer, bears actively engage in foraging for berries, fishing in rivers, and exploring their territories.

Autumn Preparations: As autumn approaches, bears intensify their efforts to build fat reserves for hibernation, leading to increased activity.

Diverse Storytelling: Understanding seasonal behaviours allows photographers to tell a varied and comprehensive story of the bears' lives.

Bear Behaviour Factors to Consider

Food Availability: Recognised the impact of food availability on bear behaviour. During berry seasons, bears are often concentrated in specific areas, providing predictable opportunities for photography.

Territorial Behaviours: Learn about territorial behaviours, such as scent-marking and tree scratching, which can be visually exciting and contribute to the storytelling aspect of your images.

Family Dynamics: Familiarise yourself with family dynamics, especially during the spring when mothers and cubs are most active. Documenting maternal care and playful interactions adds emotional depth to your images.

Fishing Rituals: If photographing near water bodies, understand the nuances of bear fishing behaviours. Patience is crucial as bears wait for the opportune moment to catch fish, presenting unique photographic opportunities.

Daily Activity Patterns: Study the daily activity patterns of bears, including periods of rest, play, and exploration. This knowledge allows you to plan your photographic sessions around peak activity times.

Communication Signs: Recognise the bear’s communication signs, such as body language, vocalisations, and facial expressions. These cues can indicate the bear's mood and intentions, enhancing the storytelling aspect of your images.

Adapting to Wildlife Rhythms: Embrace the rhythm of wildlife by adjusting your schedule to match the bears' habits. - Use the quiet moments to fine-tune your equipment, review shots, and plan for the next potential photographic opportunity

Essential Photography Gear

Camera Bodies: Selecting the right body determines the resolution, performance in varying conditions, and lens compatibility. In the realm of interchangeable lens cameras, the choice often boils down to DSLR or mirrorless options, each offering distinctive advantages.

DSLR or Mirrorless: Traditional yet powerful DSLRs, such as the Canon EOS and Nikon DSLR, deliver advanced controls and high image quality.

Mirrorless: Embracing innovation, mirrorless cameras such as Sony Alpha and Fuji X-Series, Canon R range, and Nikon Z line combine advanced features with a compact design.

Crop Sensor vs Full Frame: Crop Sensors are affordable and compact. They make the camera more wieldy while offering excellent image quality. The crop factor also enables extra reach.

Full Frame: Ideal for low-light conditions, full-frame models preserve details and nuances.

Weather Sealing: Finland’s unpredictable weather demands cameras with robust weather sealing to withstand elements like moisture and dust. Weather-sealed cameras ensure your gear remains reliable, even in the face of Finland’s ever-changing conditions.

Burst Speed: The ability to freeze fast bear movements is essential for dynamic shots. Cameras with faster burst speeds, exceeding ten frames per second, become your ticket to capturing the split-second actions of these majestic creatures.

Autofocus: Sophisticated autofocus systems with multiple focus points are crucial for tracking bears' unpredictable movements. Bears move swiftly, and a robust autofocus system ensures you don't miss a moment of their natural behaviour.

Fast-speed memory cards: These play a crucial role in the performance of your camera. These memory cards are designed to read and write data at higher speeds, and their importance is evident in several aspects:

Faster Data Transfer Rates: Fast-speed memory cards offer quicker data transfer rates between the camera and the storage medium. This is essential when capturing high-resolution images or recording high-definition videos, as the camera can rapidly write data to the card.

Reduced Buffering Time: Cameras often have a buffer, a temporary storage area, to handle the data flow. Fast memory cards allow quicker clearing of this buffer, reducing the waiting time between shots. This is especially important for photographers capturing rapid shots in quick succession.

Seamless Video Recording: A fast memory card is essential, especially at higher resolutions like 4K or shooting at high frame rates. It ensures that the camera can write large amounts of data generated by continuous video recording without interruptions or dropped frames.

Improved Performance in Burst Mode: Cameras often feature a burst mode, allowing users to capture multiple frames per second. Fast memory cards enable the camera to sustain this burst mode for extended periods, ensuring you don't miss crucial moments during rapid shooting sequences.

Lenses: The lenses you choose are the storytellers in your visual narrative, capturing the soul of Finlands bears in every frame. From telephoto zooms to prime telephotos, each lens serves a unique purpose in composing compelling bear portraits and environmental shots.

Telephoto Zoom: Opt for a versatile lens like 70-200mm or 100-400mm for isolating bears from a safe distance. - These lenses allow you to capture the grace and power of bears without intruding on their natural habitats.

Prime Telephoto: Sharp prime lenses such as 300mm or 500mm deliver crisp details on bears' fur. Prime telephoto lenses offer unparalleled clarity, ideal for portraying the intricate textures of bear fur.

Wide Angle Zoom: Consider a lens like 16-35mm to capture bears within the expansive landscapes they inhabit. Wide-angle shots provide context, showcasing bears in their natural habitats and emphasising the vastness of Finland’s wilderness.

Fast Aperture: Opt for lenses with lower f-stops (f/2.8 or lower) to create blurred backgrounds and excel in lower light conditions. Fast apertures enhance your creative control, allowing you to isolate bears from distracting backgrounds and shoot in challenging lighting situations.

Image stabilisation: Choose lenses with vibration reduction to handhold telephotos at slower shutter speeds. Image stabilisation is your ally in ensuring sharp images, particularly when capturing bears in motion or during low-light conditions.

Tripods And Monopods

Supporting your camera gear in the rugged landscapes of Finland is essential for achieving the sharpness and stability required for striking bear shots. Whether you opt for tripods, monopods, or specialised tripod heads, each accessory elevates your photography.

Tripods: Invest in sturdy tripods with a load capacity of 8+ lbs to prevent camera shake with telephoto lenses. A stable tripod is your foundation for capturing crisp and clear bear images, especially when working with heavier telephoto lenses.

Monopods: Embrace the portability of monopods, which are especially useful for movement and mobility during bear encounters. Monopods offer a balance between stability and agility, ensuring you can swiftly adapt to the dynamic movements of bears.

Tripod Heads: Ball heads allow smooth tracking of moving bears, while gimbals offer precise control for capturing dynamic shots. The right tripod head enhances your ability to follow bears seamlessly, capturing their natural behaviours with fluidity.

Quick Release Plates: Incorporate quick-release plates to enable fast transitions from tripod-mounted shots to handheld shooting. Quick-release plates streamline your workflow, allowing you to seize spontaneous moments without missing a shot.

Essential Accessories For A Wildlife Photographer: Finland’s wilderness poses unique challenges, and being prepared with the right accessories ensures you can easily navigate this untamed terrain. From sturdy camera bags to safety essentials like bear spray, each accessory enhances your photographic experience.

Camera Bag or Backpack: To transport your gear safely, choose a sturdy camera bag or backpack designed for wilderness travel. These bags protect your equipment from the rigours of travel, whether by plane, boat, or foot, ensuring everything arrives intact and ready for action.

Spare Batteries and Memory Cards: Cold weather drains batteries faster, so carry extra batteries and memory cards to sustain your photographic endeavours. Uninterrupted shooting sessions are crucial, especially in Finland's unpredictable climate.

Polarising Filter: Include a polarising filter to reduce reflections and enhance contrast in your bear photographs. Polarising filters cut through glare, allowing you to capture the actual colours and textures of the Finnish wilderness.

Neutral Density Filter: Keep a neutral density filter on hand for shooting in bright light, allowing you to use wide apertures without overexposing. Neutral density filters provide creative control over exposure, especially in harsh lighting conditions.

Mosquito spray: During the summer months, mosquitos buzz relentlessly. To ward off these persistent pests, it is advisable to keep an ample supply of mosquito repellent within arm's reach. Arm yourself with an effective mosquito spray to remain blissfully bite-free and undisturbed during the warm and inviting summer months.

Patience and Persistence

Characterised by their elusive nature, bears are renowned for their ability to navigate various landscapes without leaving a trace. Even in regions with a relatively dense bear population, observing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat can be a formidable challenge. Their inherent instinct for privacy and solitary habits often render them elusive, weaving through the dense vegetation and vast wilderness with remarkable stealth.

Spotting a bear in the wild demands a considerable amount of patience. As these creatures move at their own pace, observing them often involves extended periods of waiting, silently attuned to the surrounding environment. The key lies in being patient, allowing nature to unfold, and seizing the moment when a bear finally emerges from the shadows, revealing itself in all its untamed glory.

Safety Precautions

Collaborate with local wildlife guides and experts who understand bear behaviour and can provide insights into the best safety practices.

To prepare for unexpected encounters, acquire safety gear, including bear spray, bells, and proper attire. - familiarise yourself with emergency procedures and communication methods in challenging situations. If you’re unsure, then consider hiring a photography guide.

Practice ethical wildlife photography, respecting the bears and their natural environment. - Avoid disrupting their behaviour by maintaining a safe distance and minimising your impact on the surroundings.

Leave No Trace

This would not be a guide to bear photography without stating this. Please adhere to "Leave No Trace" principles by minimising your environmental footprint during your photographic endeavours. - Participate in conservation initiatives that contribute to the protection of Finland's diverse ecosystems.

Conclusion

Embarking on a journey to photograph bears in Finland during the summer requires meticulous planning, a deep understanding of bear behaviour, and a commitment to ethical wildlife photography. You can unlock the magic of capturing Finland's summer bears in their most authentic essence by choosing suitable locations, aligning with optimal timing, investing in quality gear, prioritising safety, and cultivating patience.

Let this detailed guide be your companion on this thrilling photographic adventure, where every click of the shutter tells a unique story of Finland's bear country's wild, untamed beauty.

Want to photograph bears in Finland?

Check out my next trip to Finland here, where you can join me in photographing the bears, wolves, and many other animals.