Minnie Gallman won first prize in the January Member’s Choice contest at the Chapel Hill Camera Club. All club members voted on photos entered in three categories “Red”, “Leading Lines”, and “Around Town”. Minnie’s winning image was tops in “Leading Lines”. Her photograph, entitled “Bear!”, is actually a composite photo. Minnie skillfully combined an amazing polar bear photo she took during a past trip to Greenland with that of the Churchill, Manitoba Train Station.
Minnie was in Churchill in late January when the polar bears have moved to the ice pack on Hudson Bay. With no polar bears around, it was safe to view the aurora. Bears passing through Churchill on their way to frozen Hudson Bay are dangerous because they have not eaten meat (especially seals) for over 6 months. They have been known to consider humans as food.