2007 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Special Mention
Michael Mauro: Caribou Headshot
“Over several past trips to Denali National Park, Alaska, I have witnessed several predator-prey interactions. On this day, I came upon a pack of wolves that had brought down a caribou bull during the night. In the early-morning hours, a grizzly sow and two cubs took over, basically camping out on the kill for about 24 hours, consuming all but the head and antlers. Just as their feeding frenzy was about to end, I looked down the river bar and spotted a very large solo bear coming towards the kill. Taking notice, the sow proceeded to pick up the head and began shaking it violently from side to side in what I assumed was a display for the approaching bear. Just after this display and immediately before the other bear came charging in, she gathered her two cubs, crossed the river and disappeared into the willows.”
Michael Mauro grew up in the small mountain town of Mancos, Colorado. Shortly after graduating from college with a bachelor of science degree in environmental biology, he picked up his first professional camera and began capturing the natural world on film. His work has been published worldwide and featured in one-person gallery shows in North America. His most recent show, Freedom, was shot over the past two years and features the American bald eagle. In addition to still photography, Michael is also an accomplished videographer. His most recent project took him to Wudang Mountain, located in China’s Hubei province, where he shot an hour-long documentary on the mountain and on Taoist culture.