Help Me Rebuild After Losing a Lifetime of Photography

This is something I never thought I’d have to do—but right now, it may be my only hope.

I’ve spent the last 20 years as a self-taught photographer. What began as a hobby turned into a full-time career, built slowly through passion, persistence, and hard work. I’ve poured everything into capturing rare and beautiful moments in nature, including bear — one of my favourite subjects.

One of my biggest dreams was to photograph every bear species. After years of planning, saving, and waiting on a five-year list, I finally had the chance to photograph polar bear cubs emerging from their den for the first time. It was the most challenging—and rewarding—shoot of my life. On day 11 of the 12-day expedition, I captured breathtaking images and video of a mother and her two cubs. It felt like a dream come true.

Then the nightmare began.

On my journey home, my vehicle was stolen—with all of my photography gear inside. The thieves took everything: my cameras, lenses, laptop, memory cards, and most heartbreakingly—every copy of the polar bear images. My entire career's worth of gear—worth over $50,000—was gone in a single moment. Some of it was recovered, but most was damaged, missing, or destroyed. My external hard drive, which held the final backup of those priceless polar bear photos, was found smashed. I’ve spent $2,000 trying to recover the files, but so far, nothing has worked.

To make things worse, my insurance has failed me. Despite paying $2,000/year for a commercial policy, I’ve only been offered $10,000 for over $40,000 worth of equipment. It’s a devastating financial blow that I may never fully recover from.

I’m asking for help—not just to rebuild my gear, but to continue the work I love. If you’ve ever followed my journey, seen my photos, or been moved by the beauty of wildlife, please consider donating or sharing this campaign.

Every dollar helps. Every share matters.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.