A Walk in My Park

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 28, 20072,836 views23 comments

G'Day

This is my first post in the Fauna forum, have really enjoyed seeing the many great images here!

I took a trip to Katmai, AK this past July to photograph coastal brown bears. For years I have had reoccurring dreams of bears....not always friendly encounters either. I had to go and spend time with the bears to better understand the significance of these reoccurring dreams, so I booked my trip. Then for weeks before going I had envisioned this exact image, it is the one image I really wanted to get, I thought it would really capture the essence of the bears and where they live.

Please feel free to comment or critique, but I just wanted to share the story of my dream image. The full significance of my dreams was not completely revealed....oh well back I go next year.

Thanks for looking and commenting.

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Dewey Jacobs on November 28, 2007 at 11:29 PM

Wonderful image

Dewey

Registered on October 18, 2007, 2 Posts, 12 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on November 28, 2007 at 11:31 PM

Who would'nt dream of capturing this image! I think you hit the nail on the head, this does capture the essence. Great job!

Wayne.

Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostedo on November 28, 2007 at 11:35 PM

Wonderful shot Shane!! Looks like great light and exposure. I love the contrasting snow and grasses of the BG. No nits for me here.

Just a suggestion, but posting it larger without so much border would really show this off. I took a look at your website, and it's simply terrific. I especially love the bear-scape with the one closer in the from and the green hill in the BG.

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments

Comment posted by Shane McDermott on November 29, 2007 at 12:05 AM

Here it is with no border as suggested.

Thanks

Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick LaFreniere on November 29, 2007 at 5:58 AM

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Registered on August 20, 2006, 16 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on November 29, 2007 at 7:53 AM

A gorgeous scene, but IMHO a bit oversharpened. A little less sharpening and you'll have a winner here. Very well done!

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on November 29, 2007 at 9:02 AM

A great image Shane, and I will just ditto the comments of the others. Enjoy your trip next year too.
Ralph Kerr

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on November 29, 2007 at 9:29 AM

Shane,

very nice indeed. I like the complete scenery... Well doen.

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on November 29, 2007 at 10:19 AM

Welcome on this fauna forum, Shane! Great photo to start with! i really like this bear in his environment, I can imagine dreaming about this! The photo without border is a good idea, it's much better to justice.

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 29, 2007 at 1:31 PM

Lovely scene Shane, a great environment shot, well done!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Wong on November 29, 2007 at 2:29 PM

I'm going to be dreaming of bears tonight too. this to me says classic Alaska.

Registered on February 2, 2006, 79 Posts, 2629 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 29, 2007 at 8:08 PM

Gorgeous image! Love the vibrant colors and the comp.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on November 30, 2007 at 11:02 PM

Very beautiful image Shave - love to see a bit larger version

Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on November 30, 2007 at 11:39 PM

Beautiful! The composition is great, and the tall grasses add a nice texture between the glassy water and those cold mountains in the BG. Glad you were able to get your dream shot.

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on December 1, 2007 at 11:43 AM

An absolute beauty. Ideally it would be nice if he were looking in our direction, but that is a very minor nit on an outstanding photo.

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by john hansen on December 1, 2007 at 1:14 PM

wonderfully shot.

Registered on September 11, 2007, 95 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 8, 2007 at 5:10 AM

I'm booking my flight for next year

Great image

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 8, 2007 at 6:04 AM

A glorious image Shane.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 10, 2007 at 5:10 PM

Fantastic image, Shane. One that brings together the majestic wildlife and grandeur of the Alaska scenery as few images do.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Dilley on December 11, 2007 at 11:14 AM

Awesome shot, Shane.

Registered on November 21, 2007, 57 Posts, 1494 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Harrington on February 4, 2008 at 1:26 AM

Hi;

I decided to join NP after I saw two images.... this one and Brad Hills image of the Spirit Bear cub with mother. This image is simply spectacular and I commend you for actually recreating an image that you had envisioned from many miles away. I have given up creating images in my mind as I am so often disappointed with what I capture in the camera after all of my hard earned work (or dreams). Now I just leave the house and ask nature to offer me what she believes I deserve on that day. This image appeared for you because it was your reward for needing to understand the bear. Nice job and be proud of your work - nature did you proud...

Registered on January 26, 2008, 40 Posts, 84 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on July 21, 2011 at 4:36 AM

Words fail me !!!! TERRRRRIFIC IMAGE

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on July 24, 2011 at 4:27 AM

Overall a very nice image. Great BG and colors all round. Well done!

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments