Fairytale-like photos of Russian family playing with real bear in the forest
As part of an anti-hunting campaign, Russian photographer Olga Barantseva has captured a series of magical shots of a Russian family playing with a giant brown bear. Set in the woods in the middle of a camping site, the images seem plucked straight out of a fairytale. The tenderness the bear displays a softer side to the big predator.
According to Barantseva, the incredible photographs "show the natural harmony between humans and bears." The bear, named Stepan stands at over 7 feet high and weighs most than 1400 pounds. He is also extremely willing to pose with his human counterparts. Stefan was recused from hunters as a cub by a professional circus trainer, also his owner Yury Panteleenko. Since the bear is people-friendly, he has played roles in over 20 Russian films.