This female (sow) was patrolling the river in search of the salmon making their way to spawn. The speed and acceleration of a Grizzly is incredible and awesome at times. Eyes focused, claws extended.
For the curious, this is not taken from a hide, no firearms, just on the river bank in open space, nothing between you and 600lbs+ of wild animal.
I love the dynamics of this image. Pure action, claws extended intense look on the Grizzly's face and the explosion of the water.
Fantastic!
MMmmmm could be Gold on the horizon
"nothing between you and 600lbs+ of wild animal" Funny thats what my wife says about me
Shaun
Posted by bill meikle on November 24, 2010 at 4:44 AM
Steve, fantastic image, amazingly sharp, maybe I'd back off the sharpening a tad but then maybe I don't know what I'm talking about either. I can imagine the excitement of being close to such an awesome animal.
Posted by Ian Macdermott on November 24, 2010 at 6:43 AM
Hi Steve,
stunning action capture
Nothing to fault apart from it looks a bit over sharpened but I am on a steam driven laptop at the moment
Posted by keith mitchell on November 24, 2010 at 7:36 AM
Hi Steve.
Steve your a very brave man but worth the risk for this stunning action shot.
Keith.
Posted by Geoffrey Baker on November 24, 2010 at 7:41 AM
A great action shot
I think I'd have needed a much longer lens myself though cos I'd have been hiding a lot further back
Well done.
Shaun, this is not one that is doing the circuits at present, but it is good to see the reaction as it's a good litmus test for other things.
Biil/Ian regarding sharpening, IMHO water splashed do tend to exaggerate sharpening, but, like Julian, I am quite comfortable on this one, although this was done whilst I am away so I might look next week when back before it goes live elsewhere, but the A3 size is spot on and that's the image that matters, cheers.
Julian, like sharks, you do get an adrenalin rush at time, but for me, they did tend to be after the event, rather than during it. I have been privileged to see some awesome animals and encounters, but these guys really did take the biscuit in terms of explosive power, how comfortable they were with us, and because of the respect on both sides, how close you got, even to the point of a 16-35 was bordering on not wide enough!!! These shots really do test focusing skills and reaction times, with a lot of near misses to boot, as things happen so quickly as you will be only to aware, great fun.
Geoff, three bodies, three lenses, 500, 300, 70-200 all to hand for all situations, plus others in the bag, the problem is 'farting' around on what to use and loosing the shot.
Can wait to go back, but Africa is calling for 2011-12.
Thanks again.
Steve
Posted by Barry Southon on November 24, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Steve
Great shot just full of action Alaska is on my list for next year with luck.
Thanks for sharing the image.
Posted by Austin Thomas on November 24, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Hi Steve,
A great all action image. I am using a hotel MAC in Munich this evening so won't comment on the colours / sharpness etc.
It is nice that the line of the far bank pretty much follows the shape made by the foreground.
I am also impressed by your bravery. The first time I went to Africa I wasn't happy about the lack of glass in the windows, so you can imagine how comfortable I would have been on this river bank....
Terrific capture Steve. Sharpening looks fine to me (I'm looking at the bear and not the explosive splash). Could maybe do with a touch more room on the right but that is a bit picky.
Discussion
11 repliesFor the curious, this is not taken from a hide, no firearms, just on the river bank in open space, nothing between you and 600lbs+ of wild animal.
Steve
MKIII 70-200f/2.8 1/3200 f/2.8 ISO400 FF,HH
16 views and no comments!
I love the dynamics of this image. Pure action, claws extended intense look on the Grizzly's face and the explosion of the water.
Fantastic!
MMmmmm could be Gold on the horizon
"nothing between you and 600lbs+ of wild animal" Funny thats what my wife says about me
Shaun
stunning action capture
Nothing to fault apart from it looks a bit over sharpened but I am on a steam driven laptop at the moment
Steve your a very brave man but worth the risk for this stunning action shot.
Keith.
I think I'd have needed a much longer lens myself though cos I'd have been hiding a lot further back
Well done.
Geoff.
Biil/Ian regarding sharpening, IMHO water splashed do tend to exaggerate sharpening, but, like Julian, I am quite comfortable on this one, although this was done whilst I am away so I might look next week when back before it goes live elsewhere, but the A3 size is spot on and that's the image that matters, cheers.
Julian, like sharks, you do get an adrenalin rush at time, but for me, they did tend to be after the event, rather than during it. I have been privileged to see some awesome animals and encounters, but these guys really did take the biscuit in terms of explosive power, how comfortable they were with us, and because of the respect on both sides, how close you got, even to the point of a 16-35 was bordering on not wide enough!!! These shots really do test focusing skills and reaction times, with a lot of near misses to boot, as things happen so quickly as you will be only to aware, great fun.
Geoff, three bodies, three lenses, 500, 300, 70-200 all to hand for all situations, plus others in the bag, the problem is 'farting' around on what to use and loosing the shot.
Can wait to go back, but Africa is calling for 2011-12.
Thanks again.
Steve
Great shot just full of action Alaska is on my list for next year with luck.
Thanks for sharing the image.
A great all action image. I am using a hotel MAC in Munich this evening so won't comment on the colours / sharpness etc.
It is nice that the line of the far bank pretty much follows the shape made by the foreground.
I am also impressed by your bravery. The first time I went to Africa I wasn't happy about the lack of glass in the windows, so you can imagine how comfortable I would have been on this river bank....
Cheers
Austin