SPIRIT BEAR

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 29, 2013215 views12 comments

Great Bear rainforest in Northern BC Canada is home to this mythylogical giant! Stealthy and intelligent while stalking through the forest & appearing suddenly is Quite an experience. The conditions were somewhat typical for the Rainforest, with Hurricane winds, horizontal rain so hard on the exposed skin, overcast in the Rainforest is Very Dark. The Camera of choice Nikon D700 handled the conditions Extremely well, with shooting constantly over 3200ISO. This Image was at ISO 1100 with very small crop. It's Salmon run & Bear feeding time here & the Spirit Bear is mainly concerned with getting his share of the higher fat content salmon. Guide was Amazing & Knowledgable , made you feel confident even with the relative closeness of this very large bear. Weather was so severe we only spent a few hours here photographing & had to leave sooner than wanting to, we needed to board the boat and high tail it to safe anchorage before the hurricane arrived full force! We did not think this was the only time in many days onboard that this was the last of our Photography for this trip. ( 4 hours over 6 days)

But Amazing Adventure & plan to revisit the area soon.

Nikon D700/ Nikon lens 200-400 VR f4,/ Hand held/ 1/160/ ISO 1100/ F7.1/ -.33 Meter compensation. Very slight perimeter crop.

Comments & Constructive suggestions appreciated.

Bill

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Joe James on May 29, 2013 at 8:37 PM

Nicely done and well handled Bill. The Spirit Bears are so cool and so rare that any good shot is a keeper and this one is definitely a keeper. I like the comp and the sharpness looks pretty good, especially considering your slow shutter speed. You even have nice catch lights in the eyes so overall, well done.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on May 29, 2013 at 8:51 PM

Really excellent image under trying circumstances. Such a beautiful subject and you have done it justice. We are booked for a trip there this fall, and I hope we have better weather than you experienced!

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 29, 2013 at 9:05 PM

William,
This is a real beauty mainly because of the low point of view and the terrific pose. Great detail and sharpness given the shutter speed, hand-holding a lens this heavy in these sort of conditions must be extremely difficult.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 30, 2013 at 12:43 AM

You did very well with the limited time you had with this bear, and the severe conditions you endured. A beautiful bear in awesome habitat.

Sweet One Bill

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 30, 2013 at 8:41 AM

Hello Joseph, The Great Bear Rainforest is so remote that it's one of the few remaining inhabitable parts of the world that is completely black at night on satellite images!
Hello Don, & Ken
He is known as MOKSMGOL by the Tsimshian People .

AMAZING Adventure I am sure to be endured again soon !!

Thanks for the Feedback !:)

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 30, 2013 at 10:56 AM

This looks like a really really good bear! Too bad you only got four hours total...I can see why you are planning a return trip!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 30, 2013 at 12:04 PM

Hello Lon

It took us longer to arrive at the GBR location because of Hurricane weather but flew into it next day , a Ride to remember in the small FloatPlane. Visibilty was Ok at start but shortly needed to go lower & lower altitude rocking & rolling, . Finally at our lowest elevation was almost wing touching the high waves . ADVENTURE to remember & this was Only First Day!!
Weather at this location in October is most severe time so hope next Adventure will get a few more Image Capture opportunities !!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Dan King on May 30, 2013 at 12:53 PM

Very nice, would love to see a spirit bear. Live in Alaska, but almost 1000 miles from the glaciers of the south east. Great shot!

Registered on May 28, 2013, 17 Posts, 12 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 30, 2013 at 7:48 PM

Bill, having been a passenger in tiny planes with tundra tires and slightly bigger ones with floats, I can appreciate the sensation when you talk about declining visibility and rocking and rolling! I felt a little queasy just reading and associating!

What a true adventure...and this particular capture will forever bring it back to you, as if only yesterday! Thanks for elaborating on the story.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 31, 2013 at 9:46 AM

Hello Lon

Yes, Amazing, Exciting Adventure. Was with several others during this adventure & we all bonded and decided to come together & did a Khutzeymateen Adventure Last year in May this time last year!. That's where Brad is Now & really envy him at this time!:) Apparently each Adventure into this Pristine setting is Very different experience & plan to travel again with Brad in 2014 !!!!:)

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Steeve Marcoux on June 2, 2013 at 6:53 PM

Superb shot!
This place is on my list to visit, i don't know when but i'm dreaming for the moment.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Registered on November 23, 2012, 15 Posts, 76 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on June 3, 2013 at 12:17 PM

Hello Steeve

Thanks for your feedback. Anywhere within this Area is AMAZING opportunities. I would strongly suggest an Experienced Guide to assist & educate . From my experience the Trips were Very Best ever taken, & travelled with Brad Hill where you can see his web & Gallery etc. on this site. Good Luck!

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments