By Daily Mail Reporter


It was the moment he had spent two cold, grueling, and solitary weeks waiting for.

But when Paul Souders finally came face to face with a polar bear his patience paid off beautifully - as these stunning snaps show.

The 51-year-old photographer managed to keep his cool to capture these incredible close-up images of a swimming polar bear.

Ready for her close up: Photographer Paul Souders captures an adult polar bear up close in Hudson Bay in Churchill, Canada

Incredible: Souders says he knew he had 'no margin for error' when taking such close-up photos of the female bear

Patience pays off: Souders spent two weeks looking for polar bears during the trip - this was the second bear he saw and the only one he could get up close to

Standing in his 11-foot inflatable zodiac, Souders drifted up to the female bear he spotted roaming on the ice capped shores of Churchill, Canada.

He followed her as she paddled up the coast until she was relaxed enough to venture right up to his boat.

Wildlife photographer Souders, from Seattle, USA, said: 'It took her some time to settle down. I really felt like I had to earn her trust.

'I didn't feel threatened, but I knew that I was on a razor's edge - I had no margin for error.

'I watched her reaction very closely looking for any sign of aggression.'

Adrenaline rush: Standing in his 11-foot inflatable zodiac, Sounders drifted up to the female bear he spotted roaming on the ice capped shores of Churchill

Adorable: The bear was relaxed enough to swim right up to Souders' inflatable boat

Stunning: The Seattle photographer says his two-week wait was 'worth it' thanks to this encounter

Souders spent two weeks in Canada looking for polar bears during the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

He spotted just two bears, only one of which he was able to get close to.

He carried 226kgs of kit - including a boat motor, camera equipment and shotgun for protection - up to 30 miles off shore.

Souders added: 'It was exhausting work, hour after hour staring at the ice trying to find that white figure against the snow white background.

'But it was worth it when you get such an encounter as I did.'

He continued: 'I didn't want to stress or injure the bear, and I didn't want to get hurt out there so far from shore.'

Souders used a remote camera on a seven-foot pole and a camera in a special underwater housing to capture the shots.

Exhausting: Souders said: 'It was exhausting work, hour after hour staring at the ice trying to find that white figure against the snow white background'

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source: dailymail