Bear power
by Mark ~ December 8th, 2009. Filed under: nature photography, wildlife.
BE9147 Brown Bear freighter
What??!! A week has gone by and I haven’t posted about any bears? :-) Well, this post certainly breaks that bad streak. Of course I am still editing and processing images from Alaska. This particular image has a lot of qualities that I like about it.
- Perspective – although I was not in the river with this bear, but on a small bluff outcropping into the river – it certainly looks that way.
- Power - Have you ever seen the way water builds up in the front of a freighter when it is moving against the current? The water build up in front of the bear reminded me of that here, showing the raw power of these animals moving against a fast moving river in search of salmon.
- No #^$%@$! seagulls! Ok, only distant blurs in the background. :-)
- Palette – I happen to like the color palette in general. The blues are somewhat tranquil. The gold of the grasses are complimentary. Wait, I think I just wrote about complimentary colors!
This image was captured using a Nikon D700, 200-400 f4 lens, ISO 1250 at Geographic Harbor, Katmai National Park, Alaska. Post processing by Lightroom 2, Photoshop CS3 using luminosity masks and Topaz Detail. Topaz Detail just released their 1.1 update which works much faster and addresses one of my complaints in my previous review.
December 9th, 2009 at
Really powerful image, Mark! I like the composition, complimentary colours, the dynamics that is in it and last but not least the perspective as you mentioned it. It’s not common to see a bear in a water from such a perspective and such a closeness. Great photo.
[Reply]
December 9th, 2009 at
Wonderful heads-on shot with this one and excellent sharp details. They are amazingly powerful creatures and you’ve capture that well here.
[Reply]
December 9th, 2009 at
This dude really is a freight train! The perspective certainly makes him look powerful. It would have been cool to have a seagull on his head, though.
Excellent shot, Mark.
[Reply]
December 9th, 2009 at
Besides the fact it’s a bear, it is the complimentary colors that makes this stand out for me. Blue & orange (or gold) are one of my favorite combination’s.
[Reply]
December 9th, 2009 at
Keep the bears coming – they are all wonderful Mark!
I hear you on the sea gulls!
Ron
[Reply]
December 9th, 2009 at
I especially like the low angle, which makes it seem that we are in the water with the bear, and the sharp focus on the bear. Nice blurred BG, but the white blotches (seagulls?) are a bit distracting.
[Reply]
December 10th, 2009 at
Ooh this is a very cool image for all those reasons you stated. Plus, bears are just the epitome of coolness. Too bad there are so many gulls though
[Reply]
December 10th, 2009 at
Embrace the gulls!
Seriously, great shot — you’re making me move visiting Alaska higher up on my priorities list… stop that! My list is too long already
[Reply]
December 10th, 2009 at
Hey Mark,
I like this – nice and low and smack in front of the bear. Very cool.
Cheers
Carl
[Reply]
December 10th, 2009 at
Great point of view and that bear does call to mind a freighter. I wouldn’t want to be in his path
[Reply]
December 10th, 2009 at
Thanks folks!
@Anita B – I was a bit torn on whether to take those out or not given they were so blurred. Perhaps now that someone mentioned it!
@Rakesh – it is well worth it for sure, but plan for plenty of time.
[Reply]
December 13th, 2009 at
This one definitely exudes raw power!
[Reply]
December 13th, 2009 at
Great depth of field, too!
[Reply]
December 13th, 2009 at
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alltop_Photo: Bear power http://bit.ly/6W6naD Photography.alltop…
December 18th, 2009 at
Mark, what an awesome photo with a great sense of purpose and movement in that bear!
Very envious of this image!
[Reply]
December 20th, 2009 at
Stunning nature blog. Kudos!
“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself. (William Blake, 1799, The Letters)
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.” (John Muir)
Your nature blog is quite inspirational and fascinating. I look forward to following you!
http://deanleh.blogspot.com/
Dean Leh
[Reply]
December 21st, 2009 at
Howard, Lana, Ethan, Dean – thanks very much.
[Reply]
December 23rd, 2009 at
I like this for the same reasons you do Mark. The eyes get lost a little in the dark of this bears face, but that happens. I’d imagine this would look even stronger as part of a small series to show more of the bears behavior. The more I see your bear photos the more green with envy I get.
[Reply]