Decision Point(s)

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 16, 2012488 views11 comments

Decision Point(s)!

A bit of a bear "enviroscape" from my not-so-recent (May-June) trip to BC's northern coast.

There comes a point where the path we have chosen to follow forces all of us to make a decision about where we're going next. This adult female grizzly has clearly come to that point - and it appears she's in the process of evaluating all her options before committing. Swim or go back?

Many of you know that I tend to use my image posts to drive home a point or "lesson" and that my posts parallel those on my own website where the same image and info is posted. This go 'round there IS another fable, but it's kind of long, arguably esoteric, and even possibly a little bit politically incorrect. So I figured I probably shouldn't post it here. Interested parties will have to wander over to my website to get the info (follow the link given below). The commentary is found under the "In the Field" tab immediately below the image.

Subject: Adult female Grizzly (Urus arctos) facing a decision
Location: Khutzeymateen Inlet, Great Bear Rainforest, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VRII lens - hand-held. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/400s @ f6.3; ISO 800. No compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: This is about 95% of the full-framed image - only a small sliver from right side and bottom cropped off.

Additional details about the image (including processing details and an Aesop's fable) available here:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/.

Comments and critiques welcomed - definitely best to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...thanks for looking...

Brad

PS to Mike W: Note the ears!

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 16, 2012 at 2:05 PM

It's nice how the "perch" is relatively free of clutter, and I like your choice to place the bear slightly right. I think a lot of folks would simply choose to emphasize the vertical composition with the reflection by centering the subject, but the placement makes sense here with the pose and direction the bear is looking.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on July 16, 2012 at 2:12 PM

wow Brad what a great shot, beautiful pose and reflection make image STUNNING!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on July 16, 2012 at 4:41 PM

Really a lovely image. The color of the bear contrasts nicely with the greenery. Agree with the prior comment about placing the bear such that she's looking back into the frame.

I've noticed in several of your images that the brown bears' claws in that area seem to be more hooked than those in Alaska. They are shaped similar to black bear claws. Do you think that is a genetic trait or a function of living in that area with softer soil etc?

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 16, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the feedback. You know, it might be an angle of view thing or something - the claws on the bears in the great bear rainforest do tend toward being long and straight (and very unlike black bear claws). The tend to be longest in the spring and get progressively worn down during the summer and early fall - so some shots from the fall may show bears with "shorter" claws. And, of course, there's always some variation between individuals - I've seen some VERY long-clawed grizzlies on the BC coast. See the image above - this is of two yearling cubs from this spring and even on these little guys you can see the claws are already getting pretty darned long and decidedly "non-black-bearish". Sorry about the image quality on this one - it's a pretty big crop from a high ISO shot (ISO 12,800). But I haven't seen enough Alaskan grizzly bear claws to say they aren't different somewhat (head shape of the big adult males is certainly different - you never see the "square-nuzzled" bears so common in Alaska in BC, regardless of how big the male is).

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 16, 2012 at 5:31 PM

This is as nice an image as I've ever seen from you, Brad. I love "animalscapes" where the environment really adds! Too many of us try to go "wider" too often when the environment isn't conducive to the image you actually should portray. The reflection and the look-back pose along with the soft forest light put this over the top for me. Love it.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 16, 2012 at 9:31 PM

Superb. Personally, I think full reflection is unnecessary and folks give away something is always trying to include it. In this case I like it even better with a different ratio, with the reflected log exiting the lower left corner and the cut-off reflection adding a sense of mystery.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 16, 2012 at 9:44 PM

Lovely bear in habitat images. I especially like the composition and reflection. The waterdrops add interest too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on July 16, 2012 at 10:18 PM

Beautiful image Brad, I always look forward to your posts.

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

Comment posted by Jamie Douglas on July 17, 2012 at 12:09 AM

and the reason I joined this forum is...

this is stunning Brad. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation at the Beatty Museum the other Saturday and I am glad I popped down to say hello after the show and got a chance to share a few words with you. Big respect for your work and I am a touch jealous of my buddy Tony who is going on your spirit bear tour this fall.

Jamie

Registered on July 16, 2012, 10 Posts, 87 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 18, 2012 at 4:42 AM

A beautiful bear-scape Brad!!! Fits nicely with your incredible portfolio of the Great Bear Rain Forest.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on July 18, 2012 at 12:51 PM

Just beautiful; wall art really. I love the DOF in this one Brad, simply perfect.

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