Disturbance of the Peace

Raising a triplet of cubs is a ton of work - just ask any female grizzly. The constant vigilance, regular nursing, and just keeping the mischievous tykes in line can wear even the most energetic mom out. We spotted this female's three cubs foraging in grass along the narrow Khutzeymateen Inlet and initially couldn't spot where mom was. After scanning the area we finally saw mom up on a stump near the forest edge - just zonked out! It was clear that she needed a break (and was comfortable with the view she had and her ability to still keep an eye out for trouble while catching catnaps).

Before long one of the cubs decided it was tuckered out as well - and decided it just HAD to climb up and sleep where Ma was sleeping. As it climbed the stump it became darned clear that the cub would be visible for a few seconds in the gap in the vegetation (with a nice dark background behind it). I judged that if the cub came up where I thought it would the heads of the two bears would be about two meters apart. I had a 500mm lens in my hands so I knew the DoF would be split 50:50 in front of and behind my focal point, so I focused on the vegetation BETWEEN the two bear heads (based on where I thought the cub would come up). And I stopped down to f8 and waited. Fortunately, less than a minute later the cub's head popped into the spot where I thought it would and I got the shot I wanted! Sometimes things DO work out the way you plan for and hope for!

And, as the image title suggests, the cub DID wake up mom up. Fortunately the cub settled down pretty quick and mom got back to the important business of resting!

Subject: Grizzly (Ursus arctos) cub with sleeping mom
Location: Khutzeymateen Inlet, northern BC coast, Canada
Camera: Nikon D5
Lens: Sigma 500mm f4 Sport. Hand-held from Zodiac boat. Hand-held from floating Zodiac. OS on and in "OS1" mode, with OS1 stabilization customized to Moderate View mode; AF customized to Fast Priority AF..
Exposure: 1/500s @ f8; ISO 2500. -0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: Moderate (This is about 80% of original image size)

A lot more info about this shot - including a 2400 pixel version it - can be found on my website using the link immediately below.

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/detail_2.html​.

Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version (or, better yet, the new detail view) prior to doing so!

Cheers...

Brad

PS: Like all wildlife images on my website and that I post on NPN, the subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants or lures (including vocalizations or other sounds).