Hell Bent Bear

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 12, 2009239 views11 comments

This is a shot from my first bear trip with my first digital camera that I've been reworking. I've always enjoyed this image, if for no other reason than it is the situation that settled me down around bears.
It was matting season and we were about 15 meters off the rocky shore on the tidal flat when a male Brown Bear chased a Female down off of the bluff above us and right past where we were standing. I never imagined bears could be faster than a race horse until I witnessed it first hand. No reason to be anxious knowing that if they wanted me, they had me. Ironically, it was a very calming for both my wife and I. The trip and this incident, in particular, will always burn brightly in our memories.
Thanks for looking.

Canon D30 400 2.8 1/90th @ 5.6 ISO 400 JPG. (greatly improved with TK's luminosity mask work.)

Comments always welcome!
Neil

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by john hansen on December 12, 2009 at 3:13 AM

he does look hot to trot. I like the motion of the fur.

Registered on September 11, 2007, 95 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 12, 2009 at 5:35 AM

Beautiful moment captured very well. Open mouth & splashing water add to the image.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM

This is an impressive image Neil and it is not difficult to imagine that you have always enjoyed it and tried to improve it. I think you have enough sharpness on the head and sufficient blur on the legs to indicated the speed it is moving at. that said IMO an even slower shutter speed and panning with the subject could have created a very effective pann blur image. Those are difficult images to make, mostly the action happens suddenly and you don't get a re-try.... I think you did very well and it certainly is an image to be proud of.

Btw good to see more people realise the strength of TK's lum masks and that it is not only good for landscape images!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on December 12, 2009 at 2:05 PM

Thanks for sharing, Neil. I always look forward to your bears. Lots of action in this picture.

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM

I guess he's involved in serious business but it looks like he's having too much fun. I enjoy the sense of movement.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 12, 2009 at 6:48 PM

The has the feeling of great speed...in other words, a very successful image!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 12, 2009 at 8:03 PM

Neil,

I like this photo a lot!

The bluring of the body, legs and background and yet the head is sharp enough for good detail. Would love to have the chance to experience this myself!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 13, 2009 at 1:44 AM

Yep, I get the sense of speed and power allright. You did a good job panning. I like the lighting from behind.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 13, 2009 at 9:37 AM

Hi Neil,

Always nice to have a memorable image to remind you of a memorable experience - well done! Motion blurs are tough to pull off, especially given that you generally only have one chance to pull them ("Excuse me, Mr. Bear, would you mind doing that again - I didn't have my shutter speed quite the way I wanted..."). Besides the motion blur, I quite like the softness of the background and lack of competing colours (with the bear).

One minor "maybe" nit - is the image tilted a little (CCW)? Between the position of the bear and the most identifiable horizontal line just below the bear's feet it almost looks like it is. I totally realize that this may simply be a curving shoreline and may only be a perception issue (i.e., my incorrect perceoption).

Cheers...thanks for sharing the image and the experience...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on December 14, 2009 at 7:11 AM

Ah, yes, I missed this one. I like this much better than the one you posted after this. Just enough blur and just enough sharpness - well done. The only thing I prefer in the later shot is the position of the legs, in particular the fact that there is some space between them. Thanks for sharing!

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Hayden on December 14, 2009 at 7:13 PM

Neil,
I like this one better than your other post because the subject is in focus while still showing motion. I like the bear's brown/red color against the blue/gray background. Ideally, You would have a more blurred background from panning, while all of the bear except feet were focused.
Sure wish I was there.

Registered on November 21, 2009, 41 Posts, 201 Comments