Chester man to photograph bears in Alaska

A photographer from Chester, Greg Durham, is pursuing his passion for photography and his love of wildlife, particularly bears, as he prepares for a return trip to Brooks Falls, Alaska.
Durham is an experienced photographer who enjoys shooting wildlife and sporting events. He has photographed polar bears with the National Geographic’s Journeys program several times, and the brown bears at Brooks Falls, Alaska once before.
Durham has been a goose hunting guide for more than 20 years and a hunter safety education instructor.
Durham is set to return to Brooks Falls on August 1. When asked why he enjoys pursuing a potentially dangerous hobby, Durham responded with “someday is now.”
Durham found himself longing to travel to Alaska to photograph wildlife someday. When the opportunity presented itself, he simply said “ok, that someday is now.”
After experiencing an unexpected loss of a loved one, Durham took on the mentality that it must be done before it is too late.
Situated at the mouth of the Brooks River and the shore of Naknek Lake, Brooks Camp attracts people from all over the world to view brown bears, enjoy world-class fishing, and learn about the long human history of the area. It is also a starting point for many backcountry adventures.
The brown bear population at Brooks Falls is very dense thanks to the high concentration of salmon in the area.

All visitors to Brooks Camp are required to begin their stay by attending a brief bear safety talk outlining park regulations.
It is recommended that people from the lower 48 states never go out without an experienced guide.
“The first time I went, I was excited. The guide was calm, but I was a little worried,” Durham said. “The bears are breathtaking, but they do have big claws and big paws. Being killed is a good incentive for a long range lens.”
Once a person experiences bears in their natural habitat, a bond is formed. With cultivation, that bond can lead to passionately advocacy for bears. Photographing them did just that for Durham.
Bears are charismatic creatures, every child loves bears, though most don’t ever get the opportunity to experience wild bears. It is the belief of advocacy groups such as “For the Love of Bears” that by telling the bear’s story it engages the masses to stand up for conservation and the protection of bears.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Through photography Durham aims to connect individuals by providing them a glimpse into the lives of bears in the wild.
When Durham was asked what his favorite picture is, he replied, “One I haven’t taken yet.”
The Republic-Monitor plans to interview Durham upon his return from his trip.