Yellowstone Black Bear 2

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 24, 2016137 views9 comments

Different view of the mama black bear I saw in Yellowstone. The tight crop was due to the narrow opening she was in, with trees on either side of her. Processed using Lightroom CC (2015) and Photoshop CC (2017) along with Light Craft's LightZone. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 1DX Mark II
Canon 200-400 f4 L IS
f5.6
1/200s (on tripod)
Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter Engaged)
ISO 800

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 24, 2016 at 10:24 AM

Jerry, this is a pleasant setting and a nice exposure. The blacks are exposed well and the greens and browns provide some nice surrounding color.

It does seem like the front of the bear (legs/chest) is lacking contrast. Did you have some plants or grass in the way?

Max

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 24, 2016 at 10:28 AM

Correct observation Max. There was some vegetation between the bear and me that caused some blurring. Thanks for the comments.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on November 24, 2016 at 12:28 PM

I don't mind the square/tight crop here Jerry, but would easily have gone to ISO1600 for more SS as she just needs to move fractionally and you would be screwed on the movement. Also processing with the software you have, any noise if any, would be so easy to deal with.

Jerry looking at the larger version, have you check the lens isn't rear focusing, the tree behind looks to have more detail/clarity/sharpness than the eye and nose of the bear??

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on November 25, 2016 at 8:30 AM

Hello Jerry,... A Fine Black bear portrait....showing in its natural environment....

Thanks for sharing

Bill
www.billbickle.com

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 25, 2016 at 9:07 AM

Jerry,
A great pose and a nice image, although it seems a little soft, but this may be an optical illusion caused by foliage.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 25, 2016 at 11:20 AM

The pose is wonderful. I am sure you were grinding your teeth about minimizing foreground foliage! I think I would darken the area in the low front body to see it that would minimize the effect of interference. Stephen might be correct about best focus plane, but it is certainly minimal consideration at this size presentation.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 25, 2016 at 3:14 PM

A nice pose here, I too noted the blurry/mushy FG.
Do you have a tad more space on the RHS?

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on November 26, 2016 at 2:34 PM

Nice pose, exposure, and comp. Face/head looks sharp to me. Did you try a comp with the OOF bordering trees framing the bear?

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on March 20, 2017 at 3:10 PM

I really like this one, Jerry. Looks like he was giving you a bit of a show. Whenever I photograph Black Bears they don't like to take a break from eating to pose like this! enlightened

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments