The Hunt - (in tribute)

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 1, 201592 views5 comments

It's been a long time Brad/Lon in posting apologies, but hope to change that.

The Hunt - Taking an intimate and detailed look at the remarkable strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey and the hunted to escape. Sir David Attenborough narrates.

Tonight is the screening of the new BBC documentary and this guy is in the mix of subjects screened and so I could not resist posting this awesome beast - (in tribute) LOL. It took him about 20 minutes to make his way over to us, occasionally stopping, then moving towards us negotiating the pack ice. As soon as we spotted him, the ship stopped and we knew his curiosity would kick in and come to investigate. It made a change to be able to shoot at some nice ISO 400 for a change. There are a few tweaks I may had done now to gain a bit more 'depth' within the ice pack itself, (always refining my WF) but needed to quickly get this out. This guys was oh so white and gorgeous, a real 'Lady's man' for sure and in prime condition.

Steve

Subject: Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) male, standing on the pack ice
Location: Svalbard
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
Exposure: 1/2500s at f/8 ISO400
Original format: Portrait, very slight crop from the top, FF on the sides
Processed: LRCC & PS CC2015

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 1, 2015 at 9:29 PM

He offered you a great, dominent pose and you captured it well, as evidenced by detail in the white exposure. The bit of catchlight is key to adding strength and life. The jumbled background of out-of-focus ice boulders lends much to the sense of place. Good one.

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

Comment posted by Hisham Atallah on November 2, 2015 at 4:38 AM

Hi Steve,
Very nice pose and side lighting. Also very well exposed with details in both shadows and highlights. I agree that more DOF int eh background might help.

Cheers,

Hisham.

Registered on November 5, 2014, 121 Posts, 352 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on November 6, 2015 at 6:22 AM

Hi Lon, glad you liked it, cheers.

I agree that more DOF int eh background might help.

Hi Hi Hisham, I can't see any advantage in increasing the DoF, what would you suggest as to me the BKG should just drift off. If you increase the DoF then more SS is required, then you are incraesing the ISO. Personally I have concerns about going beyonf f/9 with this lens, but that's just me. Am at present trying to get clarity with Canon, so we will see. cool

Cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 7, 2015 at 9:04 AM

HI Steve,

Really great pose here and I do like the lighting. I see no obvious reason here to increase DoF. I'm not always on top of all commonly used acronyms, so you've lost me on your comment "always refining my WF".

One comment on the composition: To me this is a classic pose that shows the subject "lording" over its domain. As such, I'm wondering if positioning the subject higher in the frame (more foreground, less background) would help accentuate the feeling the pose suggests - i.e., giving it MORE to be lording over. If that means losing the distant horizon so be it - for me the inclusion of the sky isn't essential to making this image work. But clearly the composition here is an aesthetic decision that resides in the personal preference realm...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on November 8, 2015 at 3:42 AM

Cheers Brad, will checkout at the original, but I'm sure as stated, there is only room to crop from above. crying

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments