Photographing a Cinnamon Black Bear in California…or not
I listened to a talk shop and the two gentlemen started talking about wild animal experiences I was glad I never heard the parts about not looking into their eyes before, because I had a truly incredible and moving experience with a black bear who was about 12' away from me as I was heading back to my car at dusk in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Unlike what Joe said, I DID look him straight in the eyes because he was so moving, so stunningly beautiful! Such depth in his dark brown almost black eyes. It was fall and his fur was incredibly long and more upright so that I could see the layers of color because of the soft breeze. I watched as the last rays of light were sweeping and bouncing off the tips of his fur. I looked back into his eyes, there was such depth in his dark eyes. (Yes, I realize Joe was talking about a grizzly but regardless, I may have applied the same sense of fear and/or resisted looking into this majestic animals eyes who stood on all fours just below my eye level.)
We were at a stand off. Yet, all I kept thinking was,
"Wow, how incredibly beautiful you are".
His eye contact was completely penetrating as if he was starring right into/through me and could see into my soul. (No, I don't do drugs, even aspirin!) After about 20-30 seconds I calmly lifted my arm and pointed my finger out clearly stating, "Go back home, go back into the woods."
He stood still except for a slight tilt of his head. So I repeated, "Go Now."
I learned this from a book I read about 25 years ago about talking to animals, claiming dominion in a calm but definitive voice, but one must tell them WHERE to go, by an Australian gentlemen talking about the experiences on his ranch. I have never been able to find a copy again. But boy, his message stuck with me—someday I will write about my experience with five raccoons.
He began to turn and walk into the woods where I was pointing. He came to a bank about 20-25' from me and paused looking back over his shoulder as he starred back at me. I again calmly stated, "Go home now."
He turned around and walked down the bank and disappeared into the woods.
That event happened 5 years ago, but I will never forget every detail as it was as if time had slowed down. I am glad I was so enamored with his beauty that I was not afraid, not in the least. I also realized later I had my Cannon camera hanging off my shoulder as I had been taking photos, but it had never occurred to me to take a photo of him. I would have loved to capture his beauty and the intensity of his gaze, but I also knew, I would have ruined the possibility of what could be a once-in-a life-time interaction with a large creature in the wild. I also knew, my camera would not have captured the movement of his fur nor the intensity of my focus, and those memories would have been lost— to forever capture what my direct attention did, the replay of each second of that encounter.
Since then, bears have felt like my totem.
So what is the point of this Blog, you might ask? The question is: If we don’t fear things are the outcomes completely different than someone that does? I feel this is true. Everything that could have turned out horrible in my life, shifted on a dime when I opened my heart. When I chose to love, regardless of the situation the outcome or reality shifts. I am pondering this this Sunday morning.
P.S. I am not suggesting all bears are the same, as they are not, but if we listen withing and not from a fearful mind we will know exactly what to do.
How about you? Have situations you want to share?
IG: vishal_subramanyan_photography