Don Johnston’s Photo Hunt

In late summer, the waters of the Fraser River and its tributaries in British Columbia teem with thousands upon thousands of sockeye salmon on their way to spawn.  This is a major yearly event in the animal kingdom, attracting predators from all around to feast on the easy pickings.  The spawning also attracts nature photographers like Canadian photographer Don Johnston and his wife Brenda. 

Last year, Don took part in a grizzly bear photography tour in the Chilcotin Wilderness of British Columbia.  This weeklong excursion was led by famed Canadian wildlife photographer John Marriott.  Over the course of the trip, Don encountered dozens of bears and other wildlife dining on the ample supply of delicious salmon.  From the (relative) safety of a motorized riverboat, he was able to snap some amazing photographs of these regal, imposing creatures. 

The weather and conditions were perfect all week long and, as such, Don’s camera was working overtime.  He shot close to 100 GB each day, and although he had over 3 TB of space on external hard drives, he was in danger of running out.  Each night Don would have to do rough edits in-camera to ensure that he would have enough memory to finish the trip. 

Despite the challenges of working outdoors, shooting from a boat, and having potentially murderous creatures as your subject, Don recognized the trip for what it was – an amazing, once in a lifetime journey.  Don looks forward to returning next fall, mirroring the yearly pilgrimage of his ursine friends.

For more of Don Johnston’s nature photography, check out his FoundFolios portfolio.