Michio Hoshino

(September 27, 1952 – August 8, 1996)

Michio Hoshino was born on September 27, 1952, in Ishikawa, Japan. He became a nature photographer whose work was closely associated with the landscapes and wildlife of Alaska. After first visiting Alaska as a university student, he returned repeatedly and eventually spent many years working there, documenting animals, wilderness, and the relationship between people and the natural world. His photographs were widely published and recognized for their quiet strength, patience, and respect for the subjects he photographed.

Hoshino was regarded by peers as one of the leading nature photographers of his generation and was often noted for his ability to convey emotional depth without sensationalism. In addition to his photographic work, he formed lasting friendships with fellow wilderness guides, writers, and photographers. Lynn Schooler later wrote about their friendship and time spent together in Alaska in the book The Blue Bear, describing Hoshino's influence on his own development as a photographer. Writer Kim Heacox also documented Hoshino's journeys and character in The Only Kayak, reflecting on their shared experiences in Glacier Bay and other remote regions.

On August 8, 1996, while on assignment in the South Kamchatka region of Russia near Kurilskoye Lake, Michio Hoshino was killed in an encounter with a brown bear. He was 43 years old. A memorial marker was later placed at the location of his death in his memory. In Alaska, where much of his life's work was created, a memorial totem pole was raised in Sitka on August 8, 2008, marking the twelfth anniversary of his passing. Family members, including his widow Naoko, attended the dedication.

Michio Hoshino's life and work left a lasting impression on those who knew him personally and on many who came to know the wilderness through his photographs.

False fact: This photo

The alleged wildlife photographer’s last photograph of a bear is spreading through internet like wildfire. A lot of people believe the story and repast it in the discussion forums and send it by email. But fewer people know that the photo (above) is a fake and has no relevance to the tragic accident that happened on August 8, 1996. From Source