Polar Bears

From the collector behind Women in Trees, images of a bizarre photo craze

People in polar-bear costumes on the beach, at pubs and fairs, arm in arm with toddlers, men, women: it can only be another gem from the collection of Hamburg-based photophile Jochen Raiss, whose flea-market finds of photos depicting women in trees have already won the enthusiasm of photography fans (Women in Trees and More Women in Trees). Here he reveals yet more treasures from his trove in this new and mysterious series of people posing with polar bears.

The shaggy white creature appears in the oddest places, serving both willingly and naturally as a photographic motif. Where did this trend originate, and why has the polar bear, of all creatures, become so popular? This entertaining little volume collects the best pictures from Raiss' collection.