Blondie + Repost

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 7, 2010107 views8 comments

I've tried to recreate the tension in this scene with a bit of an uneasy cropping. Blondie, as previously posted, was the leader of the pack of three juvenile Brown Bear cubs and, if her siblings had her back, was pretty mischievous and bold beyond her size. I had photographed the trio a couple of times previous to this encounter and had witnessed her precocious behavior so I knew what to expect from her to some degree.
I had moved out of their way as they came up the shoreline where I had been shooting another bear fishing when she turned up the path towards me and stood up to get a better look at me. She stood down when I stood up and rejoined the other two who had kept strolling up the beach leaving her back uncovered. We spent more time together in the days folowing and no other issues arose, but I always kept tract of her whereabouts. Others in our group started calling her Neil's friend and yes they did have my back.
The original is dead center so I have several cropping options, but this crop seems to help with the tension I want to convey. What do you think? Comments always welcome and appreciated.

Canon 20D 70-200 2.8 w/ 1.4 ex =98mm 1/400th @ f5.6

Thanks for looking.
Neil

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Eric Petit on June 7, 2010 at 8:36 PM

I like the expression and eye contact, I think you made a nice job on the crop. Work for me !
Thanks for sharing Neil.

Registered on April 27, 2010, 2 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on June 8, 2010 at 9:54 AM

IMHO, should have stayed in the center and made it a vertical composition. To me this is a situation where breaking the 'not in the center' rule would work. Thanks for sharing and the story behind the photo.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 8, 2010 at 10:17 AM

Hi Neil,

Technically this is a strong image - I like the lighting and the detail in the subject is excellent. I have to be honest and say I don't feel the tension from the image alone - after reading your commentary I "got it", but not from just the image. I'm tending to agree with John on going with a centered composition here, even if you say squarish or go vertical.

Back to the bear - a few years back I was working with a female (with cubs) that had a very similar coat - and we also called it "Blondie" (I wonder how many are out there wandering around with that name!!). The somewhat unusual coat colour alone makes the bear, and this image, eye-catching!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on June 8, 2010 at 12:32 PM

Thanks for the input you guys.
The composition works much better this way, I think. It's very difficult to infuse emotions into other viewers via composition, but I continue to try different approaches here on the NPN test track

.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on June 8, 2010 at 1:08 PM

Neil, glad I read the comments before typing so I didn't sound like a broken record. I also agree with the vertical and LOVE the repost. For me, if I am going to do a portrait, I usually find myself going in tighter for the compostition. I feel portraits are more intimate and I feel when I don't compose them tighter, I loose that intimacy...not sure if that is true, but it is how I feel about it personally. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on June 9, 2010 at 11:42 PM

Neil, I really like the repost. Thanks for posting.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on June 10, 2010 at 1:19 AM

I like the repost, Neil, but still don't feel the tension you wanted to convey. It still looks like one cuddly bear!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on June 13, 2010 at 3:42 PM

Nice image. I definitely prefer the vertical crop. Really Also agree with Ajit that I'm not quite feeling the tension. Funny how a bear looks cute in a picture but less so when seen at close range in the flesh!

One thing I'm not sure of in this image would be the two toned water in the background. Presumably the water in the lower half of the image is shallower? Very minor nit though. Overall I think this is great.

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments