High Key Polar Bear

[Rachel Hollander]

Another experiment from my Svalbard trip, a high key polar bear image.

Canon 5D3
300 II plus 2x III
1/3200
f5.6
ISO 800
Monopod from moving boat, straightened and cropped, levels, curves, sharpened in CS6.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Martin Dunn]

Rachel, On a monitor I find so much white hard to look at, even though your PB is beautifully exposed.
The white also seems to be causing some loss of detail on the top of the head and neck.
Where I think this image would work really well is on a massive canvas or on a wall where the matt finish would reduce the glare of all that white.

[Tin Man Lee]

A pose I would love to capture one day!
Referring to Martin's point, I think its always difficult to find a balance for the exposure of polar bear in snow in a non overcast day because the fur is kind of yellow and darker than the ice.

[Marc Mol]

Love the pose and comp here Rachel, but doesn't quite work for me as the high key approach is just too overpowering, upon opening this image it hits you instantly with this mass of white exposure.
Svalbard is certainly on my list, and one that is now not such a long distance for us to travel.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, I think this trip has been the making of you, both in terms of your observation in capturing the moment and the second being, how you portray you subjects using exposure.

Regarding the image, personally I do feel the subject is floating in frame and perhaps a 16 x 9 crop may help? I would also eliminate some of the contours within the sea of white, so you have an almost white canvas apart from the existing FG. I also feel the subject is a tad too contrasty. Looking at the Techs, you could have also reduced the ISO for better IQ.

From my prospect, perhaps not one of you better images, but what I do see is a huge potential that is just growing in leaps & bounds and someone who explores different avenues to add a twist to their images and breaks away from a nice comfort zone.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Martin, Tin Man, Marc and Steve. Yes, this is something totally outside my comfort zone and an experiment both in the field and in pp. I'm unsure about it myself so happy to have all comments and suggestions.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[dankearl]

I think the high key would work better if the bear was larger in the frame.
The exposure of the bear looks fine and the white BG is not too white for me, just too much.
I enjoy viewing your experiments, you are stretching out in a nice way.

[edwardselfe]

Agree - exposure is good. Just a bit too much white. Strangely, might work if the PB was TINY in the frame (eg the only thing on a giant ice sheet) but for this one, I would reduce the white a bit.
Ed

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Dan and Ed, much appreciated.

[Grady Weed]

I think Dan Kearl hit the nail on the head here. Reduce the crop just about 1/3 from the left and top. Then it makes the bear larger in frame, with room to move and "stretch" out in. I really like this one Rachel. Crop out the left high lines but leave the bottom ones for the viewer to realize it is on ice. here is a suggestion for crop only. I could not make adjustments for contrast and shadows to my liking. I bet your original RAW file is killer. Keep growing Rachel.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Rachel,

I guess just about everything has been covered above-just wanted to say I find this image very attractive and I kind of like the idea of a Polar Bear looking a bit "lost" in the landscape (big canvas, small bear, something along the lines of what Edward mentioned earlier). Looking forward to more images from your trip

Warmest regards,

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Gabriela, btw have a look back on the forum. I posted a bunch from the trip while you were away

Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

I agree with Steve, you really started "coming out of your shell" on this trip. I don't find the image as appealling as your others, and wonder if the exposure was tweaked in PP or if you exposed for high key to begin with? I do also see the white "bleeding" over the head and back of the bear.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Morkel, it's a bit of both, exposed for high key but then went further in pp. The areas on the top of the head and back (where you mention bleeding white) are actually whiter than the rest of the bear in most photos because that is the area that wasn't wet. The bears tend to keep their heads out of the water and when swimming the very top of their back also seemed to stay out of the water. I might still be able to pull it back a bit but it is whiter/brighter than the rest of the bear.

Thanks again,
Rachel