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Desiree Hildenbrand

@mywildlifechronicles

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Wildlife Photographer
Wandering wild with a camera in hand 📸
Learning as I go
Washington, USA📍

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Lake Clark National Park, you have my heart.

This was my first visit, and I left completely captivated by the landscape, the bears, and the wildness of this incredible place.

A huge thank you to our guide, @Kristoffdruvawildlife, for an unforgettable adventure, plenty of laughs, and for always putting the safety of both people and bears first.

I already find myself dreaming about going back.

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L 1.4x
Location: Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Guide: @kristoffdruvawildlife

#lakeclarknationalpark #canonwildlife #canonphotography #alaskawildlife #MyWildlifeChronicles by @mywildlifechronicles

There was a moment in Lake Clark National NP when a mama bear and her three cubs decided to come nap about 30 feet from where we had set up.

It was surreal, scary, and exhilarating all at the same time.

She seemed completely at ease. We remained still, sitting tightly grouped on the ground the entire time.

Somehow it felt like an eternity and just a few minutes all at once.

As a mom, my heart was flooded with emotion. Watching that little cub tucked safely into her embrace stirred something deep in me.

Such a special experience.

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, 100-300L 1.4x
Location: Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Guide: @kristoffdruvawildlife

#lakeclarknationalpark #canonwildlife #alaskawildlife #brownbearsofinstagram #MyWildlifeChronicles by @mywildlifechronicles

A year ago, I had to Google what a puffin looked like. Today, I can tell you that I am now a HUGE puffin fan! I just love these curious, goofy, and beautiful little pelagic cuties.

Earlier this summer, I traveled to Newfoundland with Trav in the Bush on one of his puffin workshops and had a great time! If you've been thinking about joining one of his workshops, or you're simply curious what the experience is like, here's the review I wrote about my personal experience:

https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/newfoundland-puffins-with-travis-layton-trav-in-the-bush

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L
Location: Newfoundland
Workshop: @travinthebush

#canonwildlife #newfoundlandwildlife #canonphotography #puffin #natgeoyourshot by @mywildlifechronicles

This was one of my favorite nights photographing polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. It was pouring down rain, the light was fading fast, and my ISO just kept climbing.

And I did not care. ❤️

I loved every minute of it. Something about watching this mama and her cubs out on the tundra in the pouring rain made the whole evening feel a little magical. And judging by the way mama kept lifting her face into the rain, she didn’t seem to mind it either.

That first image of her alone? ISO 20,000.

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#PolarBears #ChurchillManitoba #WildlifePhotography #PolarBearPhotography #WildlifePerfection by @mywildlifechronicles

Churchill may be known for its polar bears, but they certainly aren’t the only ones stealing the show. ❤️

We came across this beautiful red fox one evening, and what started as a quick wildlife sighting turned into quite the little photo session. Between the poses, the yawns, and even sticking its tongue out at us, this fox made sure our group had plenty to photograph.

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#canadawildlife #canonphotography #MyWildlifeChronicles #foxesofinstagram #canonwildlife by @mywildlifechronicles

I mean...come on. Just look at that fur. ❤️

I had read that polar bears weren’t actually white, but photographing them gave me a whole new appreciation for just how beautiful their coats really are. Their individual hairs are essentially transparent, reflecting and scattering light in a way that makes the coat appear white.

Given the right light, there is just so much more going on. Creams, warm golds, hints of brown and layer upon layer of texture. Absolutely gorgeous.

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#canadawildlife #canonphotography #MyWildlifeChronicles #polarbearsofinstagram #hudsonbaypolarbear by @mywildlifechronicles

We met this beautiful mama and her two cubs on the very first day of our time in Churchill, and I was absolutely over the moon.

I couldn’t believe we were getting such an incredible opportunity to just watch the three of them together, taking in all of their little interactions and antics among the rocks.

Going through these photographs makes me miss this magical place so much. ❤️

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#canadawildlife #canonphotography #MyWildlifeChronicles #polarbearsofinstagram #hudsonbaypolarbear by @mywildlifechronicles

Churchill had been producing stunning sunsets all week, but each night we had struck out on finding a subject in front of all those oranges, reds and yellows.

On the last day of our time in Churchill, we saw this beauty on the rocks earlier in the day and crossed all things crossable that she would stick around through the afternoon.

And she did.

As the sun started to set, she settled in on the rocks and put on a lovely show for us.

It was spectacular!

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#canonwildlife #hudsonbaypolarbear #canonphotography #canadawildlife #MyWildlifeChronicles by @mywildlifechronicles

One of the photographs I hoped to make in Churchill wasn’t a close-up of a polar bear. It was this.

Going into the trip, I really wanted to photograph the bears in a way that showed their relationship with Hudson Bay. There is something about seeing a polar bear standing along that enormous stretch of water that tells a much bigger story than a portrait ever could.

This time of year is about waiting. Waiting for temperatures to drop. Waiting for the bay to freeze. Waiting for the opportunity to return to the sea ice and hunt.

I love the portraits I came home with, but images like this were some of the ones I wanted most. The bear feels small against Hudson Bay, and for me, that’s exactly the point.

Shot on: @CanonCanada, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#canonwildlife #hudsonbaypolarbear #canonphotography #canadawildlife #MyWildlifeChronicles by @mywildlifechronicles

I went to Churchill expecting the polar bears to be the only story.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would fall in love with everything surrounding them.

The colors, the tundra, the shoreline, the enormous stretches of Hudson Bay...and those rocks.

My goodness...the rocks! I just loved them. ❤️

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#PolarBear #PolarBearPhotography #WildlifePhotography #ChurchillManitoba #HudsonBay by @mywildlifechronicles

A beautiful polar bear, a rocky ridge, and threatening clouds overhead. Churchill delivered another unforgettable moment.

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#PolarBear #ChurchillManitoba #WildlifePhotography #ArcticWildlife #NatureLovers 🐻‍❄️ by @mywildlifechronicles

Most people associate Churchill polar bears with snow and ice.

I went looking for fall colors.

I love the dichotomy! The idea of seeing a white polar bear surrounded by reds, oranges, and golds of the tundra fascinated me, and after spending a week in Churchill, I can honestly say it was even better than I imagined.

This little bear was one of my favorite encounters of the trip. It was pouring rain, the skies were dark and gloomy, and it cautiously worked its way through the tundra toward what looked like a Canada goose wing (check out the last photo). Once it finally grabbed its prize, it proudly carried it off through the colorful vegetation.

Moments like this are exactly why I came. Churchill, you were unforgettable. 🐻‍❄️🍂

Thank you to our workshop leaders, Sergius and Kris, and our guide, Discover Churchill, for an incredible week.

Shot on: @CanonUSA, R5 Mark ii, RF 100-300L, 2x
Location: Churchill, Manitoba
Workshop: @sergiushannan_photography and @krisluckphoto
Guides: @discover_churchill and @davesandford

#ChurchillManitoba #PolarBearsInternational #AutumnTundra #canonwildlife #MyWildlifeChronicles by @mywildlifechronicles