Yellowstone Reflections

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 2, 2016345 views16 comments

Sometimes you just get lucky... On this last trip out to Yellowstone my group and I were hanging out in front of this pond waiting for a pair of sleeping Coyotes to wake from their nap. When what should come wattling down the hill right in front of us? Yep... a mother black bear and her two young cubs! For this image I chose to go vertical cropping out the second cub. but really celebrating the reflection!

Image: Mother Black Bear with Cub, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Nikon D500, 600mm, 1/320th @ f8, ISO 640

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on December 2, 2016 at 3:47 PM

This is really special. Love the reflection and the colors in teh water. I really encourage you to post a larger image so we can get a better look at these jewels.

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

Comment posted by Steve Gettle on December 2, 2016 at 3:52 PM

Thanks Jerry
Kind of new here still trying to figure out how to best optimize my images for this site. I thought the biggest they would post was 720 on the long. But I see now that you can enlarge beyond that. I'll get it.

Registered on November 29, 2016, 36 Posts, 111 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 2, 2016 at 3:54 PM

Special moment and image!

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 2, 2016 at 5:46 PM

Hello Steve,. wonderful moment , well worth the time to wait!! Isn'it it Amazing how the unexpected can be so rewarding !

Are you enjoying the D500?

Bill
www.BillBickle.com

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

Comment posted by Steve Gettle on December 2, 2016 at 6:37 PM

Hi Bill
LOVE LOVE LOVE the D500, long overdue upgrade to the D300. Great camera 10 frames per second is great for action shots. Virtually the same auto-focus as the D4S which reads my mind!
Steve

Registered on November 29, 2016, 36 Posts, 111 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on December 2, 2016 at 6:59 PM

Hi Steve,

Great shot--bears stand out nicely from BG..............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on December 2, 2016 at 8:25 PM

I agree, a really special image and equally special moment. Did the coyotes appear?

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 2, 2016 at 8:32 PM

Steve, vertical works really well here thanks to that colorful grass in the reflection. Nice choice.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 3, 2016 at 3:11 AM

Steve,
What a wonderful image, could you please post a "large" version.
The poses and colours make this very special cool

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 4, 2016 at 9:25 AM

Hi Steve,

The colours and almost parallel poses make this one special - nicely done. I think this image would be even stronger with the exposure pulled back just a little - the bears appear almost a bit too light (almost going gray) and the colour in the water would definitely "richen up" with a little less exposure (I'm talking only about maybe 1/2 stop...and note that it may have to be done selectively to not block up some of the darker portions of the bear).

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 4, 2016 at 11:16 AM

Excellent capture; the wariness of the big female adds a lot. I agree with Brad, but suggest dropping the exposure setting in post-processing by 1/3rd or so an see if it gets the fur color blacker without detail, and if it makes the colors a little richer.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 5, 2016 at 12:00 AM

In my book, this is a dandy! devil

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 6, 2016 at 5:24 AM

Simply Awesome frown

Your patient persistence paid off wonderfully Steve!

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on December 6, 2016 at 9:38 AM

Steve: what all the other folks said and thanks for posting such a beautiful image. Richard