Eyes Have It

Bill, I like this photo, neat expression on the bears face. Good detail in its coat. Was wondering what a vertical of this would look like if you have the room. Thanks for sharing.

Bill, Because of the eye positions close to the frame on both animals...I agree that a vertical would bring you in to the subject more. Really cool encounter.

A fine looking black bear you found Bill. It seems like it was perfect timing for the bear to find such a hearty meal just before winter. Lucky for you too. Great eye contact and I do like seeing the eye of the deer also. This is an excellent natural history illustration.

Very Nice Work!

Ken Archer

Very nice detail on the bear Bill. You exposed this perfectly, the nice front lighting is lovely. I would like to see a bit more room top and bottom if you have it. I'm not sure about this point but, based on the body posture and head position I wonder if more room to the bear's left side and less on his right would be a more natural way of framing this, depending on what lies outside the frame of course.

Thanks everyone!! This is a new version that I cropped this way for a reason--I just forgot to go back and use the original for more room, especially above the ears.

I have posted vertical photos and vertical crops of the bear feeding on the deer, while staring right at me. I have posted about five different versions of this, from what I'm told, highly unusual "i've never seen anything like this before" behavior (in PA).

Here the focus was/is on the eyes. I don't know what else to do boys and girls!! This will always be one of my most incredible photo experiences that I'll share forever.

What a very unique moment, I like seeing both eyes and just enough of the deer to tell a story, very nice detail on the larger version, way to go Bill.

Very unique moment Bill, and well captured. The eyes really look great in the larger version1 No problems with this composition for me, the frame works as is I feel.

Hey Bill,

Well, Gary beat me to the punch on this one - my thoughts on the image parallel his very closely, so I won't repeat them. But real glad to see that this experience is still having such a positive impact on you almost a year after the event. A good advert for the role of photography in keeping experiences alive!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this image and your wonderful experience...

Brad

Thanks Jim, Jorne and Brad--I certainly agree and know that the framing is not optimal as you always (almost) want more room where the animal is facing. However, in this case, that was impossible with a horizontal shot. In others I have attempted to do that vertically.

Certainly a very unique expereince.The first black bear I ever came across in the wild while I was on foot was eating a deer carcass and had blood around his mouth. He also stood up when he saw me...

This of course scared the crap out of me and my heart stopped. I stayed still and the said hello to the bear and he chilled out. That moment will stay with me forever.

Wow, 250mm! Pretty close to the bear weren't you haha! Very cool shot, Gary seems to have covered most of my thoughts as well, so I'll keep it short- nice work!
-Cam

Thanks Jamie and Cam, great story Jamie, I know the feeling! Yes, 250mm. At first we couldn't get a clear shot, retreated to the truck and took a new approach, this was about the best I could do along with the others posted previously.