Dandelion Bear

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 3, 2011138 views8 comments

This is a picture from one of our recent trips to Waterton Lakes National Park. This bear was eating like crazy near the side of the road, only looking up when a loud truck passed or when something interesting caught his attention (which wasn't very often as he was very used to people). I had climbed into the bed of our truck for a better angle, as shooting over the truck would have made it look like I was shooting down at him and I couldn't shoot out the window because my brother and sister were taking pictures. While I was looking through the viewfinder at him eating away I was just thinking "lift up your head", and then he did! I was very happy with the image because it was one of the only ones I got when he did this, and it actually turned out really sharp. My dad and I just noticed that there is actually a mosquito on his ear!

My family and I have seen this bear quite a few times and we call him "Little Dude" (as he's not the biggest bear), but recently we found a sow with cubs which we think might have pushed him out of the area.

Nikon D300
Nikkor 300mm f/4 ED
ISO 320
1/640sec @ f/4
This is 92% of original

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 3, 2011 at 5:38 PM

Very nice, and neat story behind the photo! The OOF flower(?) right by his jaw might be distracting for some, but I think it helps to convey where the bear is. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 3, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Hi, Jenaya - terrific shot!
Love the face of the bear and the flower in his mouth.
One big step to your left would have gotten that OOF flower away from his face. It's pretty distracting.
When do we get to hear from your sister?

Your dad said she is a great photographer too!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on July 3, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Everything but the foreground is perfect. The light on the eyes, details and that nonchalant pose with the flower are all awesome. Might have been one of those occasion where a slightly higher perspective might have helped.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Harshad Barve on July 4, 2011 at 3:40 AM

Excellent image

Registered on July 25, 2010, 39 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on July 4, 2011 at 12:29 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Sandy, my dad and I really like the oof foreground vegetation because it makes the image look more natural and kind of shows where he was when I photographed him...but I would have loved for his whole face to be clear! I could not take a step to the left because I was shooting in the bed of the truck and was already right by the edge, a step to the left would've meant falling out of the truck

.

William, you were wondering if this was a black bear with different colours. He is a Brown-phase Black Bear, Waterton Lakes National Park has a TON of Brown-phase Black Bears (and cinnamon and blonde!) that some people mistake for Grizzlies. My family and I even thought that once, because there was this huge one (we like to call him Brutus) on the golf course and he looked like a Grizzly because of his size, colouring, and he was fat! Actually, it's kind of funny because when we watched him always laid down on his stomach to eat! We're not sure how old this little guy is, but he is pretty small and we think this is his first year on his own.

Thanks again!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 4, 2011 at 1:34 PM

Sweet portrait of this guy Jenaya, I really like the dandelion hanging out of his mouth. The oof vegatation doesn't bother me, because it seems to lead my eye to the nice clean view of the bear.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Joe James on July 4, 2011 at 7:40 PM

Nicely done Jenaya! Although it would have been perfect if the OOF flowers were a tad further away from his face, I agree with you that it adds context and makes this a true wildlife shot and not just a portrait of a cute bear. The look on his face is great as are the technical aspects of the shot. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on July 5, 2011 at 2:10 PM

Nice shot Jenaya - I have to agree with Anand, I love everything about the shot but the oof fg (my arch nemesis

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments