Grizzly in the Sagebrush

Nice work, Moose.  It can be so challenging getting good eye contact.  The snowy setting is a nice change of pace.

Max

Title should read "Grizzly in the Snow"

Welcome! This is an excellent first post! Uploading a large size as well would allow a greater appreciation on the detail. 
It's always tempting to crop tightly with a great image like this, but I'd personally prefer more room all around, and a subject not quite so centered. 
The head-on view is unusual - these darn things usually have their heads down, . A little more work on the eyes to bring out the reddish colour would be good.
A VERY fine image!
Looking forward to more from you!
When you can, please tell us more about you in the "forums" link above, as in the "What do you do for a living" long post. 

Neat image of this "snow bear".  I like the head position as well as the details in the bears coat and the colors. Thanks for sharing.  Welcome to NPN!

Very nice!  I like the composition and the direct eye contact.  The snow looks a little hot, and I'm wondering if it could be toned down a little to show more detail.  I think that it would add more depth to the image.  Still, I would be driving home with a big smile on my face if I had this one in my camera.

Hi Moose!  Welcome to NPN!

This is an excellent first post and leaves me wanting to see more of your work.  No nits from me.

Welcome Moose, an exceptional first posting, I just wonder if the white is not a little too bright?

Hey Moose,
Welcome to the fun here at NPN, a fantastic place to share and learn. Great first post especially considering this image has not been captured yet according to your comments, that's a neat trick, hope you'll be sharing your technique on how this is done . . .

"Image obtained October 2017 in Grand Teton National Park"

As you can see , hard to get away with anything here.
Man--Man this is a beauty with wonderful detail, POV and action created by the raised front paw. The snow on the face is a real bonus and adds to the story nicely. I like your framing choice as is but could see a bit more room all around would be helpful if this image was being framed and you were losing that 1/4 inch perimeter space. The grass is a perfect compliment for the high key snow which works fine for me and sets the mood of a very cold and blustery environment.

Excellent first post Moose. Love the head on view. This looks like a huge bear looking for a place to take a nap. Welcome to NPN.

Thanks all, you all have been so kind. Mike Ramy is correct, this was obtained October 2016, not 2017. It did crop it tight for presentation as I knew the size accepted here was a bit small and I wanted it to make a visual impact, the raw file has more room. I agree for hanging and most uses, a bit more movement room is needed for the bear so it does not feel so constricted. I also agree with Sandy Richards, I am not a big fan of centering type composition but I thought it worked well here because the face/eyes was like a bulls-eye, draws you right into the image.
 

Hello Moose, a nice first shot indeed. Personally the gaze of the grizzly draws me in and I don't mind that there is not more space. I usually don't miss that when the eye contact is direct and intense. Nice contrast of course between the snow and the bear. 

Grt, Ingrid.

Very nice frame and nicely controlled exposure

It's so hard to get head-on eye contact with these guys that it's hard not to make that the focus point of the picture.  I think this crop (or non crop) is just about right.  Looking forward to seeing more.

Superb pose and eye contact...excellent exposure...framing makes him imposing, which is good (imo) so...

Hi Moose,

Welcome to NPN and the Wildlife Gallery - and congrats on an excellent first post. I'm kind of a bear fan myself, and love to see them in the snow. What tips this one over the edge for me (in a positive way) is the snow on the face - that adds just SO much eye-drawing power and makes the image infinitely more interesting. And...your techs (especially exposure and exposure balance) are spot-on. Very nicely done.

I think for web presentation the "tightness" of this crop works just fine for me. And, while I'm not normally a fan of square crops, in this case I think it works just fine.

Cheers...and hope to see more from you soon...

Brad

Congrats on the EP.  Well deserved for this one.

Thanks to Pete Bengeyfield for commenting that this was picked as EP; I never received any notice that I received this honor. Wow, thanks


Quote by Pete:
Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on 12/12/16 at 7:32 pm MST    
Registered on 12/02/03, 1230 Posts, 3395 Comments

 

Congrats on the EP.  Well deserved for this one.

That's one big bruin!! You captured him quite nicely here! I love the snow on his face.