Bear in Repose

I hope your cologne doesn't smell like a female bear! You could be in serious trouble! As far as the image is concerned, I would prefer if the subject is shifted a tad more to the left, but that is a minor issue. Nice and sharp!

What cologne are you wearing, because I never had a chance to photograph bears, great shot Gary !!!

You must've been wearing that new fragrance Eau de Bruin! The big guy's a bit too centered for my tastes, but that's my only minor nit - great shot.

That's a pretty hefty bear, Gary. Sure looks like he is interested in you........wouldn't want to get too close to him. Great detail, and the interest shown by the bear makes the shot.

Excellent pose with his nose in the air.
Nice view of the eyes, too - always hard tocatch bears with the head up.
I really like the environment here - especially the ring of little flower heads in front.
From here, the large version seems a bit over-sharpened.
Really nice image!
Sandy

Awesome shot, Gary! I love his pose! You sure are lucky to have found this guy, he is one good looking bear! I actually don't mind your composition, I think it works good with the image.

Nice big bear who knows how to pose ! He almost has the cuteness of a cub. My only suggestion is a crop off the bottom.

Good shot Gary. Looks to me as if this guy is really healthy - which is always nice to see. Great detail and I like scenting nose. Brush is kind of grey - was this earlier in the spring? Anyway, I like it.

It's a PICTURE PERFECT !!!
Great pose n setting and I just love those beaming eyes !
Jagdeep Rajput

Great looking bear! A really fine looking specimen. Great detail in the eyes and I like the relaxed, head up pose and the detail in the fur. The only thing that detracts from this shot is the sorry state of the foilage which is beyond your control but some lush green grass and bushes, like in the "you lookin at my butt" shot would have been nice. Can you give details about how and where you took the shot and how close you were. Was there a "safe harbor" nearby incase he got irritated at you? Details please!

Exceptional, Gary. I love the subtle details of the composition and the nicely balanced areas of dark and light. In a densely vegetated setting, you managed a perspective that is beautifully low and takes advantage of a natural window allowing the vegetation to perfectly frame your subject. Excellent depth of field control with your choice of f6.3! I like how the line of foreground seed heads form a slight dished curve against the dark fur & how the evergreen boughs balance by appearing on both edges of the frame. The areas of dark and light on the fur make for pleasing sweeping lines. The pose provides a classical triangular shape. I love the accents of dark ears next to the silver-tip colored hair ,the serene but alert expression with wet nose and eye contact and the feeling he is slightly looking down his nose at the photographer with as if to say, "Close enough."

Great looking bear and pose, this habitat is awesome too. A Beauty Gary

Ken Archer

Thank you everyone for your kind comments. Robert, this bear was photographed in Jasper National Park in May. I personally haven't had much luck finding grizzlies in Jasper so this was a fortunate surprise for me. I was crouched down with my monopod on a roadway at what I consider a safe distance.

Congratulations on a well deserved EP! Glad I saw this, excellent work.

Peter

Congrats on the WP, Gary. Well deserved for this fine image.

What a magnificent animal! And image! Kudos, Gary, on a fine shot and the EP for it.

Congratulations on the WP, just now saw this. I really like composition and how the bear is framed within the image. Wonderful detail on the larger image, way to go Gary, excellent image.

Splendid image Gary, love the eye-contact :^)

Congrats on a well deserved EP! I love the pose and desaturated colors.

Great pose Gary, And it is very sharp from nose and eyes. Well captured.

Somehow missed this earler, great detail in the fur and perfect blacks on the nose plus great pose