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Talented wildlife photographer from Bungay showcases stunning images of Eurasian Brown Bears
There are approximately 1200 brown bears in Finland. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
For most university students, the summer months are spent making the most of not having to study and enjoying the comforts of home-cooked food.
Mr Read has become a keen and talented wildlife photographer. Picture: Kyle Moore - Credit: Archant
But that's certainly far from reality for 21-year-old Harry Read who, before graduating this year, spent the last three summers trawling through Finland's Kuhmo region in search of the country's astonishing wildlife.
Having studied zoology at Swansea University, Mr Read, who lives in Bungay, has become a keen wildlife photographer and has teamed up with fellow Suffolk photographer Kyle Moore for various projects.
Back in 2014, the pair got in touch with a Finnish photography company called 'Wild Brown Bear' to express an interest in travelling to Scandinavia and taking pictures of the significant population of Eurasian brown bears in Kuhmo, located halfway up Finland near to the Russian border.
Mr Read has been able to capture some stunning photogrpahs during his travels. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
The response from the company was so positive that they invited Mr Read and Mr Moore to take photos for a book they were producing which followed brown bears through the seasons.
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Over the past three years, Mr Read has spent over 1,000 hours camped in bear hides, the result of which is a catalogue of stunning images that required extreme patience and sleepless nights in a region where temperatures are uncomfortably low.
'An average night in the hides is 5pm until 8am - bears are at their most active at dusk and dawn,' said Mr Read.
The Kuho region of Finland, where Mr Read has spent his last three summers, has an abundanc eof wildlife. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
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'When you put so much work into achieving a certain image, it's so satisfying when it comes off.
'Brown bears move around almost silently for such big animals. Through my photos I try to capture the essence of what's a very secretive and timid predator.'
Now, having finished university, Mr Read is moving onto his next venture as a photographic guide in Sweden, which will involve taking photography enthusiasts into an area of wilderness called Abisko to see the Northern Lights.
The spent Mr Read has spent camped out in bear hides equates to over forty 24-hour days. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
'I'll be working with six or seven photographers at a time and taking them into the wilderness, where there are only about 100 residents,' added Mr Read.
'I'm 100pc open to living out there in the future; in fact I'd love to take people all over the world as a photographic guide.'
Mr Read has spent around 1000 hours in bear hides in Finland. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
Finland is home to significant population of brown bears. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
The next venture for Mr Read will be accompanying photography enthusiasts into the Swedish wilderness to take photos of the Northern Lights. Picture: Harry Read - Credit: Archant
