Mr. Big Bear shoots a mean photo

“I’m always working to better my skills so I can keep delivering top-notch shots.”

Those are the words of photographer and ATVer Barrie Martelle, aka Mr. Big Bear. Martelle takes his extreme approach to life with him wherever he goes, and he usually has his camera along for the ride.

“I’m always up for a solid rip, and it’s well-known that my camera box will be strapped to the back of my ATV when I show up,” Martelle said. “I stand in mud waist high with no strap and a $5,000 camera setup in my hand, so I’d say my style is full send!”

Martelle captures the action on his Nikon camera. When Martelle was a kid, his parents got him a DSLR for Christmas one year. When he was fifteen, Martelle started shooting his brother’s hockey games.

“I love documenting action sports so it was a no brainer,” said Martelle. “The challenge that comes with shooting in this type of environment is such a rush.”

Martelle’s photos ooze with personality, and there’s a reason for that.

“Adventure only shows up in photos when you can show the emotions of the people on the adventure,” Martelle said. “Crop for impact!”

When it comes to encapsulating extreme adventure through a focused lens, Martelle is the guy for the job.

“Take risks!” Martelle said. “The best shots I have are always in risky situations.

“My favourites are the tight shots of the face full of mud. It looks like the rider went to war with the swamp.”