Photo and caption by Kevin Dietrich / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

While watching her mother dive for salmon in the frigid glacier water of the Crescent River this young brown bear cub couldn’t contain her excitement and stood up on her rear legs and politely made a waving direction towards me. In a matter of one hour this young cub ate several salmon that were provided by her intelligent and fearless mother. Deep in the Alaskan wilderness this brown bear family provided my favorite image of the year.

Location: Alaska-Chigmit Mountains

All images from the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. Check out the National Geographic site to view the full contest (ends June 30^th) here: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2014/