Grizzlyscape

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 26, 2012349 views11 comments

This young bear (one of a pair of 3 year olds) was digging for roots along the banks of the Toklat River. I would've liked more space on both the top and bottom of the shot, but I was zoomed out as much as possible and the situation at the time didn't allow me to walk backwards (or move much at all, for that matter).

As always, comments & suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Denali National Park, Alaska
Sony A55
Sigma 100-500 @ 100mm
1/1000 sec @ f6.3
iso 200

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 26, 2012 at 12:40 PM

Guy, this is an ideal setting for an "animal in it's environment" type shot. I'm digging the varied colors and tones in the background.

Max

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

Comment posted by Gary Reed on October 26, 2012 at 4:03 PM

Guy,
Really like the background colour of this one and the general setting. Well done.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on October 26, 2012 at 7:30 PM

You can see how the old timers came up with the name Grizzly in this shot . Nice job .

Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on October 27, 2012 at 4:46 AM

Very nice the colours and setting of this shot. I like the light you have here, particularly in the mountains. I would maybe have positioned the bear a little bit more to the left in the frame, but that's a very minor issue. I love this photo!

Grtz, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 27, 2012 at 8:46 AM

Hi Guy,

Very nice and expansive setting here...great situation for shooting animalscapes. Like Max mentioned, the colours in the background are quite eye-catching and the whole scene is very appealing. Two very small nits for me. First...wish there was just a tad more space (and sky) shown (tho' I realize you are at the shortest end of the zoom already, so perhaps you couldn't do anything about that). Second - and this is DEFINITELY a "in a perfect world" sort of thing - this is a shot where I wish the shooting angle was just a tad higher. The only reason for this is that it would be nice to have a bit of mid-ground showing between the bear and the "onset" of the mountains, simply to give the image a bit more depth. But these are trivial things and the image as posted is very appealing.

Cheers...and thanks for sharing this...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 27, 2012 at 8:49 AM

Looks like you did a very good job considering the constraints you had to work with, ie. can't change your position. I'm taken with how shaggy that bear is, different! I might try and selectively brighten the bear's face a little more.

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

Comment posted by Ed Williams on October 27, 2012 at 2:41 PM

Love the view of the habitat in this one. Great setting and composition for me. I know it would be very difficult, but would be ideal if the bear could be a bit higher in the photo.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on October 27, 2012 at 6:41 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone, helpful as always. I would've loved to have been able to get more space at both the top and bottom of the shot, but sadly, the situation just didn't allow for it.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 28, 2012 at 9:47 PM

Fantastic habitat shot, Guy! My only wish is to have a little more light on the bear's face, and maybe a little CCW rotation (at least, to my eyes!).

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on October 31, 2012 at 12:38 PM

Nice animalscape, Guy, I really enjoy shooting these. Like you said a little more space above and below would have helped, but sometimes we just can't have everything

The dappled light on the mountains is really nice as well.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 31, 2012 at 5:29 PM

I love the colours in this scene, Guy...

I'd perhaps just lighten the bear's face and head a bit more?

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