Matt Addington Films 16-Second Brown Bear Encounter Inches From Camera in Alaska

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 22

A 16-second video from Katmai, Alaska, shows a brown bear sow grazing to within inches of Matt Addington’s camera and even his feet, turning the wildlife photographer’s footage into a viral hit.
Addington said the encounter felt peaceful rather than dangerous because the bear was feeding on sedge grass, started 100 to 150 yards away and was never startled as his group stayed upwind and spoke normally.
Experienced guides Scott and Jackie Stone were with him, and Addington said the group’s rule was to stay back and let the animals move freely instead of pushing closer for photos.
Thousands of online commenters accused him of faking the clip with AI, but Addington said he has 45 minutes of 6K footage from two cameras to verify it.
The episode underscored how close-range wildlife footage can look unbelievable online even when it comes from careful fieldcraft and established bear-viewing protocols.

Sources

As AI-generated fakes flood the internet, how can photographers prove their wildlife encounters are real?

When a bear ignores safety rules and approaches, what is the truly ethical action for a photographer to take?

Do viral videos of peaceful predators create a false sense of security, endangering both humans and animals?

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