These pictures were taken at Katmai National Park off the coast of Alaska in August 2007. The bays of Katmai National Park offer great opportunities to view the local brown bears in open situations on the beaches. We stayed at Katmai Wilderness Lodge in Kukak Bay. From there, our guide took us by boat to land on beaches where we stood to photograph the bears coming to feed on the salmon as they enter the rivers when returning to their spawning grounds. The bears take advantage of the salmon run as an important way to put on weight prior to their winter hibernation. Gulls congregate to feed on the scraps, and bald eagles are never far away. The boat also provides an ideal platform to view and photograph other mammals, such as sea otters and harbour seals, as well as birds. Although the weather conditions at Katmai can be mixed, the magnificence of the scenery – rocky peaks and glaciers – is worth a visit in its own right.