I really do, I see a polar bear. And I saw it from over 1/4 mile away.

This photo was taken one afternoon, mid-winter, up on Bonanza Ridge, above the town of Kennicott. A friend and I spent the day up there, and had the entire place to ourselves. Magical day, and we both soaked up some sense of the place while I wandered around looking for interesting photography subjects.

I’d shot a few images of the windblown snow near where we ate lunch, and tried, unsuccesfully, to make some classic wide angle “near-far” photos that Darwin Wiggett does so well. I was completely unsuccessful in my attempts, though.

But then I noticed this very cool shape on the distant ridge, and thought that would make a great subject. Switching lenses, and zooming in some more gave me the image I was looking for.

I like both the polar bear shape, but also I’m drawn to the yin yang feel to it. the shadow wraps itself completely around the polar bear, and provides the perfect counter to it. The shape of the shadowed area is just as interesting, to me, as the polar bear head in the sunshine. I kew there’d be just enough detail in the shadowed area to give it some texture and a little more personal feel than a desolate black would.

Abstract patterns of light and shadow on snow covered hillside, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.