Spirit BEAR

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 21, 2011343 views5 comments

Taken in The Great Bear Rainforest of Northern British Columbia in Canada.The Spirit Bear or Kermode Bear is a Subspecies of the American Black Bear. Because of their Ghost Like Appearance SPIRIT BEARS hold a prominent place in the Mythology of the Canadian First Nation of the area. He is known as MOKSMGOL by the Tsimshian People .
Conditions were severe on this Adventure, with 2 Hurricane like storms over a 5 day on-board a sailing Vessel . Only a few hours were devoted to Photographing & the other time to secure safe anchorages.
Nikon Camera D700 / 1/160 / Nikon Lens 200-400 VR F4/ Aperture 7.1/ ISO 700/ Handheld /
This is a Repost as Management has recently deleted my Gallery.
Not Baited or Lured in.........WILD and Beautiful!

Constructive Comments encouraged

Bill

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 21, 2011 at 4:15 PM

I love seeing images of these ethereal bears, Bill...
I like the pose and lush setting here. Obviously in a rainforest you are not going to get a lot of "clean" backgrounds and I am fine with that. I do wish the head was a little more "outstanding" (in the literal sense - standing out more!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 24, 2011 at 8:37 AM

I love the pose. Nice capture. I, too, wish for a bit better background, but this is still a keeper.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 24, 2011 at 9:03 AM

Hello Morkel & Lon

Rainforest images are extremly difficult to get a clean background. I prefer some of the environment in my images where possible, Brad usually has very tight crops, & this can reduce the backgrounds. There were a few challenges here with the extreme weather, dark rainforest in raining horizontal overcast forest, We were only allowed 1/2 hour at this location shooting time and needed to hike back to the boat and sail to a secure anchorage before a hurricane arrived.

Planning another adventure to the area in 2012 with Brad , Very excited about this upcoming Grizzly trip

Thanks for the Feedback, Very much appreciated!

Cheers & Ho HO Ho

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 24, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Sounds like you were actually fortunate to see a spirit bear, considering the weather and circumstances/time limitations. The body stance is a bit awkward, but I imagine that he was over the log seconds after you took this - so good timing. I don't mind the habitat at all. I might try and darken the water to get more attention on the subject. I saw some of these bears many years ago, before my photography habit. They are incredible.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 25, 2011 at 2:26 PM

Hello Gary

He is balanced for a few moments on the log seeking salmon and turned facing into the river but only with his profile and never offered me a turned head. The weather with hurricane conditions and near horizontal rain was a photographers challenge with extremely dark overcast skies. The river if darkened may direct the eye to the bear more & I will give it a try.
Many natives living within the Rainforest area all their adult life have never experienced seeing the Mystic Spirit Bear.
He appears silently then retreats into the forest , leaving only his footprints to see,.

Thanks for your comments

Vry much appreciated.

Bille

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments