Anan Bear Observatory, Alaska

The camera looks out over a small creek and its falls in the forested country of southeast Alaska. Bears are the main draw: black bears and brown bears come to the water to fish, wait on the banks, or rest nearby. Dense conifers, mossy rocks and the moving water make the setting easy to recognise.

Activity builds through the summer salmon run, when fish move upstream and bears gather at the falls. Early morning and late evening tend to be quieter and often busier for wildlife. Rain and mist are common, and the light shifts from soft grey to brighter midday. Watching across the season shows how the creek and the animals change.

Anan Creek lies in the Tongass National Forest, a temperate rainforest of islands, channels and old-growth trees. The area is managed as a wildlife observatory, and visitors reach it by boat or floatplane to watch bears from a viewing platform. Salmon are central to the local ecosystem, feeding bears, birds and the forest itself.