This was the one and only time where a Polar bear was on the pack ice, in reasonable light, with a meal. On a small vessel, rolling (pitching) slightly (side to side) whilst manoeuvering into position and you are trying to photograph, fun hey...
It's a perfect exposure and a pretty good reportage shot, but sorry to say matey it isn't floating my boat at all from a creative point of view.
Though I do realise that you can only 'do what you can do' when you are in the 'circs' you were in at the time.
The tripod in your techs has me puzzled slightly - were you on the main ship or a semi? If the later why were you using it?
A lower PoV from a bit further round to the left - head on - would have been a pretty good shot imo
especially if it brought the seagull a bit more into play.
Like I said, I know you can only do what you can in the circumstances, but I know you like me to be brutally honest
Honesty is all that is required Andy and it's constructive.
Quite literally there was only about 10 mins from sighting to him/her disappearing into the water, so grab what you can. Lower POV, sorry you are at least 14ft up on board ship, so will always be higher and that was shooting from the stern, bow was higher. Re tripod, could not find a spot to get into that would give support and clear line of sight HH, so tripod was the best source at the time, although with the engines at their lowest revs there was still a lot of vibration running through. More of the seagull yes, but that's the issue with fixed lens.
I think Andy beat me to it and covered the two points that spring into mind when I open this file. Not a lot you can do under the circumstances I suppose.
Comp and under the lighting conditions exposure is spot on..repeating Andy's comments I wont ,as pics like these dont come your way every day and less likely in the future by all accounts . A head lift would aid the image but as stated you shoot whats in front of you .Preplanning an image like this is a no no so kudos for getting out there and recording what will no doubt become a rarity .
I bet that was a good experience Steve, seeing Polar Bears has got to rank as one of the best. I like this shot because it is very rare to come across.
Its a good capture for me and one I now I will never see for real.
I think the only thing I might have tried is to reduce the amount of canvas at the top so as to get all the seagull in as I like it in the image but I would like to see all of it.
Discussion
12 repliesMKIII 500f/4 1/3200 f/5.6 ISO200 (Gitzo tripod Wimberely head, FF)
It's a perfect exposure and a pretty good reportage shot, but sorry to say matey it isn't floating my boat at all from a creative point of view.
Though I do realise that you can only 'do what you can do' when you are in the 'circs' you were in at the time.
The tripod in your techs has me puzzled slightly - were you on the main ship or a semi? If the later why were you using it?
A lower PoV from a bit further round to the left - head on - would have been a pretty good shot imo
especially if it brought the seagull a bit more into play.
Like I said, I know you can only do what you can in the circumstances, but I know you like me to be brutally honest
Quite literally there was only about 10 mins from sighting to him/her disappearing into the water, so grab what you can. Lower POV, sorry you are at least 14ft up on board ship, so will always be higher and that was shooting from the stern, bow was higher. Re tripod, could not find a spot to get into that would give support and clear line of sight HH, so tripod was the best source at the time, although with the engines at their lowest revs there was still a lot of vibration running through. More of the seagull yes, but that's the issue with fixed lens.
Edwin
A very strong image taken in difficult circumstances.
Have you got any more images with the Polar Bear looking up?
The image tells the story of life and death in nature and for that it has to be commended.
Shaun
Regards,
Des
Tim
Danny
Dale
Its a good capture for me and one I now I will never see for real.
I think the only thing I might have tried is to reduce the amount of canvas at the top so as to get all the seagull in as I like it in the image but I would like to see all of it.