Comments on: Isolation and happiness

By: Graf Nature Photography | Notes from the woods » Isolation and …

Graf Nature Photography | Notes from the woods » Isolation and … — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:51:16 +0000

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By: bernie kasper

bernie kasper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:29:39 +0000

You can milk them till the cows come home Mark, they are all fabulous and each one gets better, keep them coming !!

By: Thomas Folke Andersen

Thomas Folke Andersen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:36:38 +0000

Both of these shots are great Mark. Thanks for sharing these and those in earlier posts with us! Man, it must have been an adventure!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:20:56 +0000

I won’t even pretend to know what makes a bear happy…other than perhaps a full stomach…but that might be more satisfied than happy since it seems pretty much instinct that drives them to do what they do. I don’t know how to ascribe human emotions to wild animals, domesticated ones is easier perhaps. Since bears generally seem to prefer their personal space the first one might be more accurate in showing “happiness” for the bear. In the second image the bear certainly has an amused looking expression though. Either way both are truly beautiful images. The black and white is absolutely wonderful.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:54:39 +0000

Thanks for the tip Mark.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:49:15 +0000

Richard, I went on a photo trip led by Michael Francis. Great guy, well run trip, and very respectful in the field with the bears.

http://www.michaelfrancisphoto.com/

“Wandering on your own” is not recommended simply because there is more “security” traveling in a group around the bears unless you know the territory and the animals well.

Carl Donohue is also starting some trips in different areas, also a top notch and knowledgeable guide as you probably already know.

By: Richard Wong

Richard Wong — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:24:30 +0000

Hey Mark. Perhaps I missed it, but did you take a guided tour to photograph all the grizzlies or were you just wandering around on your own? After seeing the Ken Burns series and your photos, I really want to go up there.

By: Aswirly

Aswirly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:17:40 +0000

That smiling bear is totally happy! Ok, so it’s not a proven fact but it sure made me smile

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:17:18 +0000

Carl – thanks – very good point about defining personal space!

By: Carl D

Carl D — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:01:46 +0000

Hey Mark,

Great shots – I love the monochrome, and the composition on it is wonderful.

The 2nd doesn’t look stressed to me at all.

I think you’re point that bears might not experience loneliness quite as we do is an important one. On the other hand, many students of the bear, particularly grizzlies, have said they’re not really the ’solitary’ creatures we’ve declared them to be. They don’t have a territory they claim, but live within a home range that is typically home to a number of other bears – and though they may have a larger personal space than we do, they also have far keener sense than we do, so perhaps know just as well what their neighbors are up to a mile away in the woods as we do of our neighbors next door.

Great photos.

Cheers

Carl