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Framing Your Next Shot: Photographing Bears in Their Natural Habitat

Photographing Wildlife with Respect, Trust and Understanding


The Framing Your Next Shot training will change the way

you interact with bears...




So, why study bears as a photographer?

Framing Your Next Shot: Photographing Bears in Their Natural Habitat, is a comprehensive program that follows the CBVA Level 1 Bear Viewing Guide curriculum and covers topics such as bear behavior, ecology and viewing best practices - all from a perspective of respect, trust, and understanding.

With this training, photographers can have the opportunity to learn how to interact with bears and other wildlife while still maintaining safety measures and preserving their natural habitats.

The Framing Your Next Shot training  is ‘ALL ABOUT THE BEARS’ and how to minimize your impact as a visitor with respect, trust and understanding. 

Bears, especially grizzly bears are recognized as an umbrella species, which means by learning about them, you indirectly learn about other species and ecosystems that grizzlies use for their daily, weekly and yearly requirements.


If we haven't met yet

My name is Daryl Dancer, the Bear Country Naturalist, not to be confused with Naturist. A CBVA Level 3 Guide and Instructor. Bear Viewing is my profession. Grizzly bears are my passion.

Think of me as a bear (interpreter, translator, protocol officer) instructing humans on proper BEAR etiquette, because if you are still reading, I think you’re figuring out, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BEARS!

Bears are intelligent, unique and tolerant individuals and when you treat them with respect and understanding that’s when the magic begins.

Wildlife Photographer CBVA Level 1 student,  Jo-Anne Oucharek,  experienced this magic on a recent photography trip to Alaska, “Taking the bear viewing course with Daryl, really opened my eyes to the behaviour of bears… I was blown away with how the trust between us and the bears happened.”

When you join the Framing Your Next Shot course you’ll receive…

* Continuous access to the Learn at Your Own Pace recorded lessons                         * Over 30 hours of LIVE Interactive Group Coaching 
* Invitations to Pre-Season Review Sessions
* Invitation to End of Season “Lessons Learned” Debrief Session
* Bear Awareness Resource Manuals
* CBVA Bear Awareness and Safety Certificate
* Invitation to Bears and Brew Monthly MasterClass
* Email support

If you are a nature lover, wildlife photographer, outdoor enthusiast, looking to learn more about bear behaviour and how to photograph bears with respect trust and understanding. 

Your mission if you so choose to accept, in as little as 30 hours, is to step into this world class training so you can begin your journey into the secret lives of bears and wildlife. Click on the link below, so you can experience the magic of viewing bears and wildlife with respect, trust and understanding.

THE MAGIC IS ONLY ONE CLICK AWAY. See you on the other side.

 "Yes, I Want to Do This"

Here's what you'll get when you sign up 

* Continuous access to the “Learn At Your Own Pace” recorded lessons                    * Over 30 hours of LIVE Interactive Group Coaching 
* Invitations to Pre-Season Review Sessions
* Invitation to End of Season “Lessons Learned” Debrief Session
* Wildlife Viewing Resource Manual
* CBVA Watching Wildlife and Bear Awareness Certificate
* Invitation to Bears and Brew Monthly MasterClass
* Email support

The theory portion of this training is delivered through Live Interactive sessions using Zoom.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

COURSE LESSONS AVAILABLE 8 JUNE 2023!



Need More Information?

The Commercial Bear Viewing Association Level 1 curriculum is not only focused on bear viewing. This training is for anyone who spends their time in nature professionally or for enjoyment and adventure.  It's also great if bears visit your neighbourhood and backyard.

Who wouldn’t like to spend more time viewing and photographing wildlife?  Did you know there is the right way and the wrong way to do this? Photographing bears or wildlife the wrong way does not bode well for you or the bear.

The Framing Your Next Shot: Photographing Bears in Their Natural Habitat training  is IS ALL ABOUT MINIMIZING YOUR IMPACT as a visitor in bear country with respect, trust and understanding. 

NB: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CBVA LEVEL 1 CERTIFIED GUIDE LET ME KNOW!  WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

On completion of this training you'll know:

  • Bears are great communicators and will let you know if you can stay or if you should go. 
  • Understanding bear behaviour is a transferable skill that can be applied to all wildlife you might have the privilege to encounter.
  • How to move your group through the landscape in ways that will minimize the impact of your presence.
  • The difference between a viewing opportunity or if it has become a potentially dangerous situation and how to respond.
  • The bear-human emotional dynamics that can occur in an encounter and how to manage those emotions.
  • How to interpret bear behaviour and how they use their surroundings to meet their daily, weekly and yearly requirements.

Take a look who has taken this training

Here  is a list of companies and individuals that completed this CBVA  Level 1 and Watching Wildlife 101 certification training.

  • West Coast Adventure College
  • North Island College
  • Sea Kayaking Guides Alliance of BC
  • Campbell River Whale Watching
  • Homalco Culture & Wildlife Tours
  • ‘Namgis BATI - Broughton Aquaculture Transition Initiative
  • Coastal Spring Fishing Lodge
  • Nimmo Bay Resort
  • Grey Wolf Expeditions
  • Wildlife photographers
  • GrizzlyBear Advocates
  • Nature Lovers
  • Outdoor Enthusiasts
  • International Guides
  • Potential Bear Viewing Guides
  • Professional and Recreational Kayakers

When you join the Framing Your Next Shot course you’ll receive…

* Over 30 hours of LIVE Interactive Group Coaching 
* Continuous access to the “Learn At Your Own Pace recorded lessons
* Invitations to Pre-Season Review Sessions
* Invitation to End of Season “Lessons Learned” Debrief Session
* Bear Awareness Resource Manuals
* Bear Awareness and Safety Certificate
* Invitation to the monthly Bears and Brew MasterClasses and Q&A
* Email support


"This training opened my eyes to the behaviour of the bears, because I think that's what the training does for you, I'm a wildlife photographer, and that's kind of why I stepped into this training. I  thought the training that I had was absolutely incredible. And I feel very fortunate that it helped me not to impede what the bears were doing, because I watched other people in the area affect the bears behaviour."

Jo-Anne, Wildlife Photographer

When you register for the Framing Your Next Shot training your investment to experience the magic of watching wildlife with respect, trust and understanding is…. $575  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FRAMING YOUR NEXT SHOT.   

Are you ready?

It's time to step into the Framing Your Next Shot: Photographing Bears in Their Natural Habitat training so you can minimize your impact on bears and other wildlife you might have the privilege to encounter!

Reserve your seat today, so you can experience the magic of viewing bears with respect, trust and understanding. 

 "Yes, I Want to Do This"


STILL NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Drop me a line and we can jump on a quick call to answer your questions. Email me at daryladancer@gmail.com to book an information session.

Modules for this course 9
Yes, I Want To Do This!

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