Spirit Bear Fishing

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 27, 20072,372 views11 comments

This is one of those shots that I'm always reluctant to show because personally I'm not thrilled about it but, strangely (and surprisingly to me), it has sold very well. I know it's completely because of the unique subject...

Subject: Male "Spirit" or Kermode Bear in stream

NOTE: The Kermode (or Spirit) Bear is a Black Bear (i.e., Ursus americana) with a white coat. The coat colour is a caused by a recessive gene and the bears are very rare - it has estimated that there are only about 200 in the world. For some reason Kermodes are relatively common along a small section of the northern BC coast - on some islands 20 to 30% of the bears are white. Kermodes are NOT albinos.

Location: Gribbell Island, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikon 200-400 VR (@ 400 mm)
Exposure: 1/125s @ f5.6; ISO 100. -2.0 stop exposure compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

Lots more detail about this specific image (field notes, camera and shooting details, processing details, species status and conservation) can be found at the following page on my website:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/mammals/bears/detail_3.html

I'll be interested in what folks have to say about this image - thanks in advance...

Brad

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Bruce Painter on August 27, 2007 at 11:03 PM

I like it Brad. I admit the subject holds alot of the apeal but really the only thing that bothers me is the bright sunlight on the log in the background. It does try to draw my attention away from the subject.

Bruce

Registered on May 11, 2006, 50 Posts, 207 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 27, 2007 at 11:06 PM

Hi Bruce,

I agree with your comment (totally). I was cursing that log while looking through the viewfinder. Given the uniqueness of the subject I decided that it was worth shooting anyway...

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

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on August 28, 2007 at 3:00 AM

Brad,

sometimes the subject matters much more as the overall composition. Actually I like the image also... just the light beam at the left hand site tree trunk is a bit, but really a bit distracting... Due to the white color, the bears stands out nice...

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on August 28, 2007 at 10:57 AM

Very neat. The bright log doesn't bother me that much. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on August 28, 2007 at 10:48 PM

Surprised it sells well? Dang...this is awesome in my book! Agreed about the bright spots on the log, but wow, what a pose from such an unusual subject.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 29, 2007 at 1:16 AM

If only the bear would also have been lit by the warm sunlight, combined with a look straight into the lens, this would have been an absolute winner in my opinion. Still a very nice iamge as is Brad!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 29, 2007 at 9:41 PM

Beautiful

I'm not suprised ot sells well eother.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 3, 2007 at 12:46 PM

Brad: What a beautiful bear and the setting isn't bad either. I like the spotlight on the BG log. Very well done and congrats on the EP. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 3, 2007 at 3:46 PM

Wow, to even see a Spirit Bear much less get a shot like this is an event that most of us will never have. Way to go. I can see why it's a good seller for you. Congrats on the EP for it.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on September 4, 2007 at 3:38 AM

I have selected this image for the EP, because it is a good example of what nature photography should also be, documentation of rare animals, and passion of a photographer to get the desired image. I am also not very happy with the iluminated log, but the bear all over draws its attention to the viewer, because of its unique fur. It has this character of a spirit, seldom experienced, but of an unique appearance. The surroundings contribute also to that feeling...

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on September 6, 2007 at 7:21 AM

great capture - congratulations

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments