A Cuddle Amongst Chaos
Based on the images I've posted in this gallery (and what's on my own website) It should be fairly obvious that bears rate real high on my "favourite subjects" list. But over the last couple of summers I've found another species that I absolutely love to photograph - Steller Sea Lions. These highly specialized aquatic mammals have a Jekyll-Hyde thing going on when it comes to their mobility - awkward (but not slow moving) on land, they are absolutely graceful and stunningly beautiful to watch when they take to water. And, if you're fortunate enough to find a "photographable" colony the range of social behaviours and interaction types you're presented with is mind-boggling.
I captured this very brief moment of affection between a female sea lion and its pup while they were surrounded by bedlam and chaos - the rocks all around this one had sea lions on them that were jousting for position and crawling all over one another. The deafening roar of bellowing lions was overwhelming, but apparently mom and pup saw a brief moment where they could "steal" an affectionate moment and they took good advantage of it. Seconds before this shot the pup was bawling in mom's face (while showing its needle-sharp teeth) and seconds after I shot it mom dove into the water. But for a brief moment there was...peace and harmony.
Photographing sea lions in a natural setting is challenging. The colonies are often in remote locations and best accessed from the water (which almost always seems to be rough!). The range of behaviours you can witness is diverse, but most interactions are only fleeting and can be lost (or simply missed) because of the how darned much action is going on all around you. Isolating and capturing compelling visual "snippets" can be challenging and often means you have to use a moderate to long telephoto lens - and odds are you're using it hand-held from a small boat that's bobbing like a cork! Uber-challenging - but among some of the most "fun" shooting I've ever done...kind of like mixing riding a bucking bronco with threading a needle!
Subject: Female Steller Sea Lion (
Eumetopias jubatus) and pup on rock
Location: Northern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VRII lens - hand-held from Zodiac. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/1600ss @ f5.6; ISO 1400. -1.0 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: This is about 90% of full frame image
Additional details about the image (including processing details) available here:
http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/detail_2.html.
Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!
Cheers...thanks for looking...
Brad
Comments
11 commentsAwesome capture of a special moment. I love the shimmering reflection in the water. Nice colors throughout. My only potential critique wouldn't actually be the photo, but the title. After reading your description, I understand the chaos occurring behind them, but it doesn't really come across in the photo (as I think you intended...). So, just a minor thing, but there were my thoughts haha. Can't wait to see more of your beautiful shots of the pacific northwest!
-Cam
1. Jenaya: Thanks for the feedback. Regarding the sea lion in the background - nope - not a pup and not hers (they have only one pup at a time).
2. Cam: Can't argue with your thoughts on the title!
Cheers...
Brad
We have some very good access to Sea Lions here, and I find that capturing their personality can be a challenge. You did well. I always enjoy the high technical quality of your work, and this one is up there with the best.
Ken Archer