Spectacled Bear

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 13, 2014143 views6 comments

I had wanted to see this endangered species for years and finally got the chance to see and photograph one during our last trip to Ecuador. There is a reserve that this bear is regular in but only a few weeks a year when the aguatillo trees are fruiting can they be seen on a regular basis. I was lucky enough to be in this area when the trees were bearing fruit. In this shot the bear is descending the tree after we had approached the tree for some close ups. There wasn't much light available and I was using my 7D because my 5D3 wasn't working after having taken on too much rain water in the Amazon. So I was a little challenged to get the shutter speed and depth of field necessary to pull off this shot as I don't like the 7D at high isos.

7D 500F4 1/200 F4, iso 400, Gitzo tripod with Wimberley head. Cropped to vertical.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 13, 2014 at 2:35 PM

Nice timing to get this Nate, in terms of not only how he is descending the tree free of any obscuring branches, but also in being in the right place in the right country at the right time to capture this rare bear. I like the white bark of the tree as it contrasts nicely with the black of the bear. The hint of motion blur in the paws helps the viewer understand that the bear was on the move.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 13, 2014 at 5:52 PM

It had to be exciting and rewarding to photograph this bear species in the wild! In this photo you caught the bear in action in it's habitat, in a nice pose. Maybe a bit more contrast would be my only comment. Thanks for sharing this image and info.

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 13, 2014 at 8:48 PM

Nice job in making the capture. I had not seen this species before. I agree that the motion in the back foot helps to let the viewer know it was on the move.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 14, 2014 at 10:07 AM

Congratulations on finding this species Nate. I bet it was an exciting moment (would be for me anyway). I agree with you about the challenges of the 7D (used to own one). My only nit is the big brown leaf on the left keeps pulling my eye toward it a bit. No idea why, because it isn't that bright....probably my slight case of OCD. If mine, I might darken it a bit more.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 14, 2014 at 2:51 PM

Congratulations, Nate. Truly a rare find. Any documentation is better than nothing, and you did well given the equipment constraints.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 17, 2014 at 3:41 AM

Sweet One Nate!!!

What a awesome find and a pleasing photo of this bear in it's environment to go along with the experience. Those claws are awesome. Great expression too. Nice work in such adverse conditions.

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