Guarding the Gold

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 27, 2009362 views23 comments

This situation was very fluid. Rain shower moving one direction, Bears moving another, me trying to position the two in the same frame in a calm, non-threatening manner. This sow had two cubs with her that she had stashed in the depression just prior to this shot. Moments later the rainbow disappeared from my angle of view.

Canon 20D 70-200 2.8 @ 70mm AV 1/400th@ 5.6

Please see alternate Pano crop below.
Thanks for looking.
Comments always appreciated!
Neil

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 27, 2009 at 11:12 PM

Alternate pano crop

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 27, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Well WOW! I prefer the pano crop. It doesn't, however allow for the full effect of the rainbow. Maybe just a few pixels higher into the sky. And glad you're home safe.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Donohue on November 27, 2009 at 11:41 PM

hey Neil

Awesome - I much prefer the full frame, though it might be a little stronger with a slight crop from the bottom .. but sky adds a lot to it, IMO.

Where is this - awesome scene. You were on foot?

Cheers

Carl

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 27, 2009 at 11:47 PM

Sorry,
In Katmai NP and yes, I was on foot.
Thanks for looking!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 28, 2009 at 12:13 AM

I love everything about this. It must have really been amazing to witness this in person, however, I prefer the pano.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on November 28, 2009 at 6:07 AM

Wonderful scene. I much prefer the full frame shot, but with quite a bit cropped from the bottom. The bear itself doesn't look very sharp to me, even not in the large version.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on November 28, 2009 at 10:40 AM

What an amazing scene. I love both the full shot and the pano and can envision different uses for each. For example, the pano would make an excellent bookmark. If I was printing it big I would probably do as Marsel suggested and leave all the top but crop the bottom. Looking at this I get a very happy feeling. Someone finally made it to the end of the rainbow.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 28, 2009 at 12:44 PM

I would agree fully with Marsel's observations. Terrific scene. It is too bad you didn't get this with a smaller aperature for more depth of field, which seems possible at 70mm. This must have been pretty close!

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 28, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Neil, I so envy you for this! I have several good rainbow images, and even more wildlife images (of course), but have never been able to find the two in place at the same time!!!
Your pano crop is too pano for me. IMO a crop from the bopttom only will create a strong comp. Unfortunately I do echo Marsel's comment about the sharpness of the bear. You did not mention ISO used but IMO a larger aperture would have helped. Also the use of a polarizer (maybe you did but I suspect not) would have enhanced that rainbow tremendously.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 28, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Neil,

I like this a great deal as posted because of the scenery, the rainbow and the bear.

I think the comp would be stronger using the original post with some taken off the bottom.

The softness of the bear has been mentioned but I think a touch of selective sharpening might improve that a little.

I haven't been to Katmai yet, but this image is tempting me.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 28, 2009 at 2:20 PM

Vincent and All.
It was shot at iso 100. The noise in the 20D keeps me down there. Just ordered 4 50D's yesterday. Can't wait to try them out after seeing the work here at NPN using them.
It looks a bit soft on my monitor here at work as well. I don't know if I have a issue coming out of lightroom or where the problem lies, but you can rest assured I'm looking into it.
Thanks!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 28, 2009 at 4:25 PM

Love the placement of the bear amid the awesome landscape. The rainbow really puts it over the top!
I actually prefer the full image. Much more dramatic.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on November 28, 2009 at 7:24 PM

Outstanding photo!! Full size vote for me too! Other issues already noted.

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Kastendiec on November 28, 2009 at 11:11 PM

Spectacular Neil! Where was this taken?

Registered on July 8, 2009, 17 Posts, 93 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 29, 2009 at 6:51 AM

Wonderful frame !
I prefer foreground of the pano crop & sky of the normal crop.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 29, 2009 at 10:05 AM

Hi Neil,

Whoa, this must have been a great experience! Much envy here!

I'm jumping in late here, but want you to know this is an impressive image. In terms of the standard aspect ratio vs. pano crop discussion: I would agree that the pano is just a little too pano for me - I'd go for a version where the crop on the bottom is similar to what you've done with the pano shot but with most or all the sky of the 3:2 version...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this fine experience...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Joe James on November 29, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Beautiful shot! I agree with Sally in that I like both versions but for different uses. You could probably even do a vertical crop emphasizing just the rainbow and bear. Well done!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 29, 2009 at 5:39 PM

Awesome image of a unique situation Neil!!! Very well done!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on November 29, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Awesome is right! Right place at the right time! I like the pano crop better as I think it accentuates the vastness of the wilderness - but I'd give it more room at the top. the mountain peak RS looks a bit cramped. Great shot!

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Donohue on November 30, 2009 at 6:01 AM

Hey Neil

Definitely a rare image for Katmai - I've not seen any at this altitude there at all.

Cheers

Carl

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Gibson on December 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM

Wow..absolutely amazing...a very lucky set of circumstances. Well done. I echo others on just cropping the bottom.

Registered on June 11, 2008, 19 Posts, 130 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 3, 2009 at 12:47 AM

Sorry for commenting late on this, Neil. What a fantastic image! I've heard about gold at the end of a rainbow, but a grizzly?!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Brandon Sideleau on December 3, 2009 at 1:18 AM

Wow...what timing! And great job getting all of the colors so perfect.

Registered on October 6, 2006, 79 Posts, 173 Comments