Camera-curious B.C. grizzly bear captured in YouTube video
Behind-the-scenes footage of viral image of a grizzly looking through camera lens
The image of a B.C. grizzly bear poised behind a photographer's camera on a tripod went viral earlier this month—and now a new video uploaded to YouTube shows how the scene unfolded.
Jim Lawrence's image of the grizzly, up on its hind legs, peering behind the camera, became an instant online hit.
Another B.C. photographer, Heidi Henke, uploaded the video Tuesday, showing the spot near Revelstoke where Lawrence—who can be seen taking pictures in the background—had set up his camera.
The video shows the grizzly, dubbed "Harry the Bear" in the video, wandering near the photographers before moseying up to the camera on a tripod.
After sniffing around, the bear starts to lumber away before turning to check out the equipment more closely. At that moment, Lawrence captured his much-shared image.
Lawrence, of Kaslo, had originally submitted his photo to CBC Radio One's B.C. Almanac for its Listeners' Lens gallery, and told this story to go along with it:
"The grizzly in the photo was fishing for Kokanee and making his way upstream. I set the camera up at an opening in the brush thinking I’d get a photo of him across the way.
"I should know better than to guess what a bear is going to do. He crossed to my side and scrambled up the bank, at which point I dashed back to the truck for another camera.
"They say intelligent species are curious and the big bear was no exception. He approached the camera cautiously, sniffing deeply, then stood up for a closer inspection. For the longest time, he studied the screen and buttons then, with a huge long-nailed paw, gently tugged on the strap.
"The weight of the long lens caused the camera to pivot quickly upward, startling the big fellow at which point he kind of shrugged, and went back fishing."