Snowy Polar Bear

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 9, 2015111 views8 comments

Something from a few years ago, Brad your bears are calling, you know I just love bears.

A lot has been learnt since taking this image, just wished I had the kit I have then, but there is always a next time, for sure.

Thanks folks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image.

Cheers
Steve

Subject: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus), close up
Location: Svalbard
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 70-200f/2.8 plus 2x
Exposure: 1/200s at f/5.6 ISO1000
Original format: Landscape, small crop mainly on width

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 9, 2015 at 1:43 PM

A noble portrait. I love the white on white!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 9, 2015 at 2:37 PM

Stephen, this is just stunning. The eyes, the detail, it's all there. Usually you don't get such eye detail on polar bear shots. Really love this one.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Sandro Bisotti on February 9, 2015 at 4:55 PM

Not sure if the technical aspects are more spectacular than the subject.
al also the composition.....only clap hands.
All the best,
sandro

Registered on February 8, 2015, 30 Posts, 265 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on February 10, 2015 at 2:46 AM

Neat.

I like the white-on-white, with the black nose and eyes, and the brown around the ears. Excellent detail in the large image. Really nice.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on February 10, 2015 at 5:27 AM

this image conveys the coldness of the environment very well Steve. I like the dusting of snow on the bear's head.
My only niggle is with the tight crop - with the crop this close one does not know if the bear is alive or not. It could be the head of a bearskin rug.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 10, 2015 at 8:10 AM

Beautiful rendering of white on white and subtle color make this special. I especially like the snow on the bridge of the nose, pure white, which is contrasted by the clean and very black nose! The white edge of the eye and color stains in the fur are enhancements, too. The one tweak I can suggest is to take a slight crop (halfway from edge of frame to ear) off the top, which I think minimizes the sense that you are looking down on the bear and makes the impact more intimate and powerful.

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

Comment posted by Sandra M. Apel on February 13, 2015 at 12:38 PM

Concur with all the others specific to the white on white, detail captured throughout it's face and head. The fact that you were able to get the polar bear eye is a feat onto itself. Regarding the color around the ear, do you think that may be smeared blood from a wound during sparring. I recall seeing that on bears during recent trip to Churchill. The whole expression on the bear is just perfect! Thanks for posting.

Registered on October 15, 2013, 20 Posts, 171 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 13, 2015 at 3:07 PM

Thanks folks, yes it was cold indicated by the encrusted snow on the fur which just adds more to the content IMHO. Jerry it can be tricky getting any light into those eyes, just luck with light & angle. Lon good call on the crop, makes sense thanks.

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments