Brown Bear with Salmon/Near Katmai National Park

[Robert Amoruso]

Brown Bear with Salmon
Near Katmai National Park while on Charles Glatzer’s Ultimate Brown Bear Workshop

Instead of running my own Alaska workshop this year I decided to accompany Chas on his – quite the experience and some excellent bear photography. I will be back next year to Lake Clark with my own workshop.

Canon 1DIV
Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x
1/2000 sec, f/7.1, ISO1600
Feisol CT-3342 Tripod/Jobu Design Jr. Gimbal Head

To save weight I used the Feisol CT-3342 tripod. A bit smallish for the 500mm lens but as long as I held onto the rig it work well.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Super sharp and nice eye contact, the salmon nicely contrasts with the brown bear!

[Diane Miller]

Wonderful! I think it would be even more powerful if there were just a little more detail in the darkest areas of the face, especially the eyes. And the crooked "horizon" is creating some tension.

I love how the reflection comes to an end with some nice space below it. The white border effect gives it the artistic look of an illustration. That theme might be carried out on the sides if there was just a little more room -- it feels crowded right and left, to me, but I understand that there may have been distracting elements there, or maybe it's already full-frame.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Robert, nice to see you back and posting too.

I had noticed you had teamed up with Chas when I saw another posting elsewhere, looks like you had a good time with some spectacular sightings and great captures and by the looks of this, it wasn't just you who caught the prize. I like the tight crop because it allows nothing to distract you from the main subject, plus with the almost minimal BKG really does separate the subject. I don't mind the almost 'sunken' eyes, although perhaps just a slight 'lift' to give a tad more prominence, likewise the nose. I think there could be some more detail/definition to get from that area. The head colouring of the salmon looks spot on, but wonder if the red is as fraction bright, again, perhaps a slightly 'darker red' but 'you were there', as we say One thing I would do is back off on the sharpening, with the higher ISO of the MKIV I personally feel is just on the border of looking a tad crunchy, but that might just be me.


TFS Robert, hope to see more in time.

Steve

[Robert Amoruso]

Tight crop was needed due the the gulls all around in the BG. I did not want them showing up as well. I do have one with the face lightened (posted here) but wanted to see the reaction with the OP version which is closer to the bears true shades of brown.
Red on the fish: That is what they looked like - no fudging required in PS.

Thanks for the comments, greatly appreciated.

[Steve Kaluski]

Tight crop was needed due the the gulls all around in the BG.

I think Robert we had an exchange of thoughts regarding Gulls & hand grenades when I was up in Katmai.

Red on the fish: That is what they looked like - no fudging required in PS.

As I said, 'you were there', just my take.

[Robert Amoruso]

Yes I recall that conversation.

I knocked down the sharpening somewhat too. I always need to readjust my sharpening for bears at higher ISO.

[Andrew Merwin]

I think the RP sings. I like that both species' eyes are visible. Also, the blood in the water that is running off the salmon is a neat touch. TFS.

[Loi Nguyen]

Fantastic image. Clean, intimate, great contact with the bear. My initial impression was a bit dark on the bear face and I would like to see more detail on the salmon, but this may be the skin had already been stripped by the bear. They usually go for the skin first, don't they? As for the RP, great contact with the eye, but like you said, the true color of the bear is more like in the OP, so I'd go for something in between. Great job! Please let me know where and when you have your workshop next year! Loi

[Stan Cunningham]

Like the RP better Robert and don't think it takes away too much from the color of the bear. If it were mine I would take some strokes with the diamond sharpener set very low on the eyes to enhance the catchlights. Nice shot, probably saw you as we were at the same spot but didn't know it.

[Robert Amoruso]

Stan,

I routinely do creative sharpening on the eyes and did so here. I think what you see as catchlights is rain. Some careful local sharpening on the eyes of the TIFF file I create the JPG from may be the touch needed. Thanks for the comments.

Thanks Loi and Andrew.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Great to see you posting, Robert!
I like this full-on frame a lot, and prefer the RP for the better luminosity on the face and eyes. Always amazed at the colour of the salmon...Katmai is on my bucket-list!
The raindrops in the BG also add a lot, immediately noticed it.

[Bruce Spell]

Add me to the list for liking the RP a tad more. Great moment and excellent eye contact with the bear. I'm with Morkel on the rain in the background but I wish the one or two drops directly in front of the bear's left eye (on our right) weren't there. I also didn't notice the blood running in the water at first. Nice added touch to the overall shot.

[edwardselfe]

Lovely image - the RP is better I think. And there's so much detail and interest that I find myself looking at it for ages to find more. Still looks a little over-sharpened to me but that's just taste and I know what the 1D4's like at 1600 upwards.
Ed

[Markus Jais]

Fantastic close-up. I like the intensive red color of the salmon and the look on the bear's face.

The water drops around the salmon and the rain in the background work great here.

Markus

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Robert - good to see you posting. I'm another that prefers the lighter rp. The sharpening looks better too. I also think the tight crop works well. Looking forward to seeing more from your trip.

TFS,
Rachel

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Robert,
I too prefer the RP and might go a bit lighter....but I do like the tight comp!

[Steve Canuel]

Lots of eye contact in this one and some nice colors too. Just the right amount of splash for me.

[Tim King]

Nice job getting low for this. The lightened face repost is perfect. Fine job.