The Ethereal GBR

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 7, 2011909 views14 comments

The Ethereal Great Bear Rainforest

Good Monday morning all - this one quite different than my last closely-framed shot and I have to say I far prefer it (tho' it will be interesting to see how others react to it). Please see note below about some specific feedback I'm looking for...

One of the things I love best about being a professional nature photographer is that it forces me to spend long hours in the wilderness. And, in time, you get to see some pretty amazing things. Like this scene - to me it was not only breath-taking, but it literally embodies the essence of one of our planet's most special places - the large tract of intact temperate rainforest on the coast of British Columbia that has become known as The Great Bear Rainforest. Absolutely ethereal...

I captured this image during a moody, foggy morning in the autumn of 2011. We had been watching a female grizzly and her cub digging for roots along an edge of a river at the end of a long coastal inlet. The sun had just come up and was beginning to slowly reveal the many layers of lichen and fog-laden trees that make up the rainforest. This scene was changing second-by-second as the mist drifted through the scene. I shot dozens of images of the scene but this one, with the mother bear silhouetted and rim-lit while standing along the edge of the river bank and with the background forest being gently kissed by the soft light, is by far my favourite.

Besides general feedback (which would be more than welcomed), I'm looking for an opinion on something. I'm about to issue a very limited edition (and very expensive!) large, framed print and all proceeds (after production cost) will be going to help fund one side in a very large environmental/conservation battle that is looming (and I do NOT want to go into details about that - would get political quickly and this is not the place for that kind of debate...but if you follow the link below you'll probably be able to piece things together yourself

). ANYWAY...this image is on my short list for the print. And, so is this image (which was taken about 20 mins before the one above).

My question is simple: Which do you prefer (and think would do better as a print)? I DO have my favourite but feedback from others may definitely influence my decision...

Subject: Female Grizzly (Urus arctos) in morning mist
Location: Great Bear Rainforest, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: NNikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VRII lens - handheld from floating Zodiac. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/400s at f6.3. ISO 100. -0.33 stop compensation from matrix metered exposure.
Crop:Negligible - this is about 95% of full-frame image

Alert - Digitally Manipulated Image: This image clearly crosses the line from simple digital correction to digital manipulation. In the case of this image, I digitally removed (using the clone tool) one stem of grass that crossed the bears throat and cheek region.

All the gory details about this shot (processing details, conservation, etc.) and some background info on the Great Bear Rainforest can be found here...

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/detail_3.html.

As mentioned, feedback (and critiques) welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...thanks for looking...

Brad

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on November 7, 2011 at 1:33 PM

Hi Brad,
I prefer the other one as a print. The sunbeams are more visible and the bear appears to be enjoying them shining on its face. I also like the foreground trees and the more visible ones in the BG. THe clearing fog is also more pronounced and for me gives a better sense of fog permeating through the forest.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on November 7, 2011 at 1:47 PM

Hi Brad- In my (very) modest opinion I'd take the second image: both are beautiful but the second has more "classic" appeal, with a stronger backlit effect on subject, and with those well defined sunbeams that surely enhance the composition- The "middle" customer maybe prefers the more dramatic compositions, but obviously I can't say that for sure- Anyway you could get a dice and probably with a random choice any of your bear pictures will serve perfectly the purpose- best wishes, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 7, 2011 at 3:16 PM

Tough call. My opinion won't really help, as I prefer the environment of the other image, but the pose of the bear doesn't appeal to me. I do think the other one would get a stronger reaction.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on November 7, 2011 at 3:53 PM

Hi Brad. IMHO I prefer the other one (Autumn Sunrise...) both are great images but in the other one the bear is doing something, the light beams have more power and you can see better the detail of the trees and eagles.
Oscar

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 7, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Brad, you make it hard to choose! Besides the fact that the mood is splendid and the framing/composition is great, I will attempt to give you my thoughts on which one I would print...not that I have made a decision

, but merely my 'train of thought' as it were...

I love the rays of light striking through the tree in the previous posting. It really enhances the mood of the scene and the mood of what I feel you were trying to convey. I also like the pose the bear struck in that shot. That being said, in this one the really appealing factor for me is the wider framing. It's got a softer, more understated mood, but perhaps it portrays the 'sense of place' better?? I would print both if I could...but if only one, perhaps I would stick with this one...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 7, 2011 at 8:45 PM

The light on the background trees and the fog are stunning. I much prefer the first version, the bear's pose is more interesting and the beams of light more impressive. This version has me desperately wanting to see what lies at the bottom just outside the confines of the frame; assuming it's the water of the inlet.

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on November 8, 2011 at 1:42 AM

Another really nice GBR shot Brad - I like this one a lot, but I think the other would be more interesting for most people, due to the upturned head of the bear, the two eagles and the sun beams.

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 8, 2011 at 1:01 PM

No doubt, the other one is MUCH more powerful IMO Brad and will appeal to more people than the image posted here. Good luck with the choice and the battle!

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 9, 2011 at 2:14 AM

I prefer this image to the other one, Brad. This shows more of the GBRF and the bear naturally dwarfed by the hills and the trees. I would have preferred the bear to have come closer to the edge of the river bank, but that is wishful thinking. Also, my eye, after registering the trees, the mist, the distant hills and, of course, the bear, keeps coming back to the partially lit clump in the foreground. I find this a little distracting. That's my honest opinion.

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

Comment posted by Eleanor Kee Wellma on November 9, 2011 at 9:51 AM

In my opinion the other image would sell better to more people. The stretched neck and upturned head add to the interest of the bear itself. The contrast between the mist and the background add interest and the light rays, of course.

If the mist in this image, more contrast, this could sell better.

The first one is more powerful as shown. All the best with this!

Registered on December 3, 2010, 0 Posts, 4 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on November 9, 2011 at 1:13 PM

I almost didn't through my 2 cents in, but here it is. I like this image better. To me it has a much more sense of place and a more mysteries feel, which is what the northern rain forest have. Also the high slanted bank under the bear in the other image is distracting to me. Just my preference.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 9, 2011 at 1:27 PM

This image is incredible Brad! I really like the forest emreging from the mist and the bear silhouette is great anchor in this strong composition. I would be proud to hang either one of these photos in my home or office. But, if I was to pick one or the other, it would be the other photo. In my opinion it has a (magical) way of connecting me to the forest. As a photographer, I wish I would have been there to experience that awesome morning.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 10, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Hi Brad,
Tough choice.
I would be captured by the first image from a considerable distance (across a large room) and be drawn to it. I'm not real fond of the head position, but it does lend a sense of "something in/on the air". Striking!
This image I think would be great in a more intimate environ. I would certainly spend a considerable amount of time enjoying both.
I have to go with the other image if I'm trying to sell a cause.
What a great problem to have.

Neil

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 11, 2011 at 8:08 AM

Hey all,

Thanks for all the feedback - it's been very useful for me in deciding on what shot to use for that print. I have to admit that when posting this shot I was about 99% certain that I would use THIS shot, but am now re-considering. Hopefully more feedback will roll in to help me decide...

I tend to agree with Max and Neil about not being thrilled with the head position on the previous post. But I think Neil has a really good point about the previous post being stronger from a distance. I personally like the subtleties of THIS post - to me it's more "classic" and timeless and - as Richard said - has a more mysterious feel. I think it would appeal to a more conservative (small c) crowd, especially if framed and matted using a classic, dark colours.

But I have a another week or so before deciding, hopefully more feedback and thoughts will roll in...

Cheers...and thanks again for the help...

Brad

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