Into the Heart of the Forest: Photographing Slovenia’s Brown Bears

A Sony-Powered Photo Adventure 

Text and images by Sam Turley

Waiting patiently in the vast forests of Slovenia, the occasional water droplet falls to the ground, breaking the stillness. Muffled calls of woodland birds echo through the trees, and vibrant greens glow where light bursts through the canopy. It’s a place of anticipation, silence, and slow revelation. Patience is key in these forests where time stands still and Europe’s largest predator roams – and so is having the right equipment. 

Lucky for me, I was armed with a new Sony Alpha 1 Mark II, with the aim of putting it to the test in the challenging forest environments of our Bears of Slovenia Photo Tour. This article offers an account of this trip, some of my favourite shots, and insights into how Sony’s Alpha 1 Mark II helped me achieve them.

Slovenia’s Wild and Untamed Heart

As we began our descent into Ljubljana, Slovenia’s picturesque capital and the gateway to the country, I peered out of the aircraft window and was immediately struck by the vast swathes of green forest and mountainous terrain. It’s dense, it’s vibrant, and it’s wild, a taste of things to come. Beech, spruce and fir trees dominate the landscape here, and approximately 60% of Slovenia’s territory is forested (for comparison, the UK is around 13.5%). Despite its small size, Slovenia boasts an extremely rich biodiversity, with approximately 22,000 species of plants and animals calling it home.

Slovenia had not been a mainstream name in the world of wildlife photography. But a couple of years ago, I started to hear whispers of wildlife photographers discussing it as a destination. I’m now gradually seeing more photographers travelling there – and for very good reason. This small European country offers a rare combination of stunning natural beauty and absence of crowds. And, of course, it has bears. 

The Brown Bears of Slovenia – A Story of Coexistence

For me, the brown bear is a real juxtaposition: a ferocious, powerful apex predator that also happens to have a rather cute, fluffy face and almost comically small ears. Having said that, I’m not sure I would say that to their cute fluffy faces any time soon. They really are the ultimate predators. Standing over two metres tall and weighing up to 300 kilograms, they carry immense presence. They are incredibly powerful, and armed with 10cm claws they can dig into hard soil, lift heavy rocks and tear away at tree bark with ease in their pursuit of tasty grubs, fruits and vegetation.

Slovenia is home to one of Europe’s healthiest populations of brown bears, with nearly 1,000 individuals roaming the forests of the Dinaric-Alpine region. Thanks to a combination of EU-backed legal protections, science-led monitoring, and conservation-focused management, these bears have made a strong comeback from the brink of local extinction. It’s one of the most successful large carnivore recoveries in Europe.

Find out more about joining a bear photography tour to Slovenia

Historically, bears were heavily hunted, and while a controlled annual cull is still in place, the country has become a model for coexisting with large carnivores. What makes Slovenia particularly inspiring is how local communities have found new ways to value these animals, especially through ethical ecotourism.

Our local partners work directly with hunters who now guide photographers into the forests in pursuit of a very different shot captured with a lens rather than a rifle. It’s a powerful shift: using knowledge passed down through generations, locals are now earning a living by helping people respectfully observe wildlife, rather than by taking its life.

Into the Hides

As we walked through the forest towards the hides each morning, you could feel the anticipation and excitement building amongst the group of photographers. Although the local guides know bear ecology and behaviour intimately, the animals can still be unpredictable. There’s no way of knowing how long you will wait before a bear appears or whether one will appear at all. This is the beauty of wildlife, and it makes any encounter incredibly special. 

The hides – small structures built from locally sourced materials – typically hold two photographers, with multiple hides at each site. Once you get inside, the setup is simple: a ledge to rest your camera on (ideal for a bean bag or gimbal head) and an elasticated fabric port to push your lens through. Then, the waiting begins. 

Surrounded by such pristine wilderness, you enter an almost meditative state. Apart from the muffled calls of birds, it is pure silence, a luxury many people don’t experience living in urban areas. As clouds move above the canopy, golden light continuously paints a new version of the forest.

Bear Encounters

In one of these moments of wavering concentration, a mother bear suddenly emerged with her two cubs. There is no feeling quite like seeing an animal in the wild for the first time, especially an iconic species like the brown bear. There’s an initial rush of adrenaline, followed by deep appreciation and gratitude. The mother walked purposefully, her cubs trailing behind. Nose to the ground, she began foraging, digging in the mud and flipping rotten logs, which the cubs insisted on helping with. Occasionally, the mother would look up to scan the area before continuing.

After about 30 minutes, she froze and stared off into the forest. The cub closest to her did the same. Then, suddenly, they all bolted out of sight. Moments later, another smaller mother bear arrived with two sub-adult cubs. Two separate families in one afternoon. We had hoped to see just one bear, and here we were witnessing interactions between two families. The mothers tolerated each other at a respectful distance, about 20 metres apart. Most of their communication was through body language, and it was fascinating to observe.

Photography in Silence with Sony’s Alpha 1 Mark II

When a bear finally appears, you switch from total stillness to sharp focus in an instant. It’s a test of preparation and patience. Without being able to move your position, you have to make the most of the situation presented to you, and timing is everything. 

In forests, the light is constantly shifting as trees sway and clouds pass. It’s one of the most challenging environments for a camera to interpret and focus in. When bears lifted their heads to scan the area, the Alpha 1 Mark II did exceptionally well, locking onto the eye swiftly using its AI subject recognition. The difference between a great shot and one that ends up in the bin is often a fraction of a second.

When you trust your camera to perform, it frees you to focus on the most important elements of photography, creativity and expression. Without the worry of whether your camera will lock on, you can fine-tune your settings and shoot with purpose. From my perspective, this is a real game-changer.

Making the Most of the Gear’s Versatility

Shooting with the 200-600mm, I had the versatility to be able to zoom right in when I thought a portrait was needed or zoom out to include the stunning surrounding environment. Some of my favourite shots from this trip are those wider shots that show the bears in their natural habitat. 

I teach guests to get as much right in-camera as possible, but having a large sensor gives peace of mind. You have the freedom to crop slightly in post-processing and still retain exceptional quality. With a 50.1MP sensor, I was blown away by the level of detail captured in my portraits.

Everything on the Alpha 1 Mark II is customisable. Although I only had the camera for just over a week, by the end of the trip I felt very comfortable using it. With more time, it could easily become like an extension of my body exactly the relationship you want with your camera whilst out in the field.

Beyond Bears: Inside a Bird Hide

Outside of the hides (if that wasn’t enough), we spent time at a purpose-built bird hide. It offered the chance to photograph smaller forest dwellers, like red squirrels, woodpeckers, various tit species, and my personal favourite, the hawfinch.

Birds are among the most challenging subjects to photograph. They’re fast, unpredictable and small. Combine that with dappled light in a forest, and it becomes even more difficult. Shooting at 30fps with Sony’s pre-capture significantly improved my chances of capturing key moments, like freezing water droplets as a black bird bathes, a woodpecker’s wings extending as it takes flight or water dripping from the bill of a Hawfinch as it drinks.

Going Macro

A patch of lavender at the front of our accommodation became the stage for something unexpected. I spotted a hummingbird hawk-moth feeding and couldn’t resist testing the Alpha 1 Mark II. These insects are incredibly fast and move erratically, making micro-adjustments as they feed. In the past with previous camera bodies I have owned I would have simply admired them and not even attempted capturing the action however on this occasion I knew I had insect tracking functionality so I turned it on and put the camera to the ultimate test. I simply could not believe the accuracy of this camera – I was getting crystal clear images of moths in flight feeding on flowers, really mind-blowing stuff. It may be time for me to delve into the world of insects in flight photography (niche, I know).

For Those Who Dream of the Wild

If you’re inspired to explore Slovenia’s forests in search of bears, then consider joining one of our upcoming Bears of Slovenia Photo Tours. You’ll not only get a chance to photograph incredible wildlife in a stunning setting but also receive hands-on guidance and tutoring – no matter what camera you shoot with, and what level you’re at as a photographer. 

And as I’m sure is clear, I really enjoyed shooting with Sony’s Alpha 1 Mark II and some of Sony’s lenses that are ideal for wildlife. It performed beautifully in a very challenging environment, where speed and accuracy were essential. If you’re considering the camera and want an honest, real-world perspective from someone who used it in a wildlife context, feel free to reach out. I’ve shot with multiple brands and I’m happy to offer completely impartial advice to help you decide if it’s the right camera for you.

About the author: Sam Turley is Penda’s General Manager and a professional wildlife photographer. During his career in wildlife conservation in Southern Africa, Sam began to understand the power of conservation storytelling through photography, and has made it his mission to educate, inspire and motivate people to fight for a wild future. Sam has won the Wilderness Safaris People’s Choice Award in 2020, and he was a finalist in various competitions, including Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year and Natural History Museum Photographer of the Year.