How we photographed a superfan becoming Bearman

This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Anthony Vazquez. Follow him on Instagram.

What makes this photo important?

I like this photo because it’s always interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of any transformation. In this case, we see Don Wachter applying face paint as he transforms into the grizzly-looking “Bearman.” Bears fans know him well, as he is one of the established unofficial mascots who hypes up the crowd. Not shown here is the faux fur that makes up his arms and legs nor his taxidermy bear helmet. Meeting him on the street, you wouldn’t think he’s the man behind the mask. He is a shy individual who, as he puts it, transforms into a more confident, growling man to inspire his fellow fans.

How did you get the photo?

We spent the morning with Don to get to know him and watch his transformation into Bearman. He first gave us a tour of his home, showing us his memorabilia. He had a lot! It was remarkable to see everything he had collected and to hear the stories attached to the pieces and photos on his walls. We even got to hear some unknown Bears history linked to certain objects.

After the tour, Don told us about his journey, starting from his initial fandom when he saw Walter Payton play. Over the years, the attire he wore to games became more elaborate. As he started to become recognized, the Bears reached out and asked if he would run the flags on the field during games. With the introduction of the official mascot, “Staley,” Don moved back to the stands as Bearman. He explained all of this with a sense of wonder and what I felt was amazement at what he had accomplished over the years.

With years of practice, getting dressed as Bearman was straightforward: He applied the face paint with ease and precision in his bathroom, saying you can tell the amateurs because you can see their skin peeking through the paint. Next were the pants, which were straightforward enough — one leg at a time — and probably the easiest part of the process. Faux fur covered the legs, and there was a small bushy tail on the back. Next were the bear paw shoes. These were standard hiking shoes covered with faux fur and black claws.

The upper body was more difficult. As he put on the first layer, he mentioned that the most important thing was not to touch the face paint and smear his work. He stretched the neck of the undershirt, which had faux arms attached, and carefully pulled it over his head. He was 50 percent done. Next, he put on shoulder pads that were a little cumbersome, making the following step even harder. On top of the pads went his jersey. With the faux fur arms and shoulder pads, putting on the jersey was no easy feat. Our reporter, Mohammad Samra, had to help pull his arm through after it got stuck. Finally came the bear helmet and claws to complete the outfit.

After everything was in place, Don Wachter had finally transformed into Bearman and gave us all a signature Bearman growl.