Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Polar Bear in Liquid Gold

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default Polar Bear in Liquid Gold

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Another one taken when the polar bear crossed into the golden light area. Taken at about 7 a.m. in Svalbard, Norway. I went for a vertical here to be able to show a little more of the expanse of the pack ice.

    Canon 5D3
    300 II plus 2x III
    1/5000
    f9
    ISO 400
    Monopod from moving boat, ff, levels, curves, luminosity mask, sharpened in CS6.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

    P.S. I will be mostly out of pocket through the weekend but will try to catch up on images next week.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hyderabad, India
    Posts
    5,088
    Threads
    1,356
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent look at the environs on this amazing bear Rachel, I like the vertical crop and the light is really cool.

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    UK / RSA
    Posts
    407
    Threads
    38
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I very much like the idea of showing a bit more of the polar bear's environment but for me the vertical crop doesn't quite work as there isn't enough detail in the dark patches of ice at the back to make them interesting.
    I would prefer a more horizontal crop that cuts out some of the dark ice and that glowering sky.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Abq, nm
    Posts
    458
    Threads
    41
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    He needs a hug.

    nice shot, love the light.

    i was going to say something close to what Martin did.... Though I would keep it vertical, I was thinking just some off the top of the sky.

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    9,587
    Threads
    401
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is beautiful! I have to vote for the OP -- I love how the stark landscape falls away in the distance. There is enough interest in the sky, with the hint of clouds, to justify it -- I might even try to bring out a little more detail there. If anything, I might see taking away a little of the FG water, just because it's more monotonous, but I wouldn't crop more than half of it.

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Griffin, Georgia, United States
    Posts
    309
    Threads
    38
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I'm going to have to place a second vote for the OP . I like the added information as to the environment . I get the feeling of vast openness . A lone bear ,in a lonely , mass of emptiness . One of my personal test , as to if a photo "Works" or not is how I feel about it as a thumbnail . Seems to me if I can't recognize the story at a smaller size it fails . Point is, this works for me at the smaller size . Did I say I liked it ? lol.

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel, another cool image, but like Morkel's elephants from Mana, it's the light that really makes the image IMHO. Love the colours and a nice departure each time in the way you portray your images, it's great to see how you and Anette can shoot the same subject, but the environment and thinking is so diverse, albeit at different times, great. You dealt with the exposure well and the highlights in the water helps to set the scene nicely. Shooting from a boat is never easy and you did well in achieving the shot. Wouldn't change a thing.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Thousand Oaks, California, United States
    Posts
    3,023
    Threads
    416
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel, another vote for the OP. To me, cropping out the sky loses the habitat and the perspective. The inclusion of the sky helps orienting the viewer and gives the image a 3-D look. Well done here. The light is beautiful. Loi

  9. #9
    BPN Member Sandy Witvoet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    926
    Threads
    27
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Another vote for the OP... just with little to no water at the bottom. Fabulous image!
    www.mibirdingnetwork.com .... A place for bird and nature lovers in the Great Lakes area.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the light, mood and scene here Rachel - good call on the vertical framing and expertly exposed/processed.
    I like it as is but could also take off just a wee sliver from the bottom?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  11. #11
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,818
    Threads
    95
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Rachel,

    very nice image. For me, I would change not even a flea in this image. Very well done with vertical, we just had not that light what you had up in the pack ice. I assume yours was a tad lighter than ours. People being there often mentioned, that earlier trips the light is brighter. September trips you have the sun setting/rising, that takes hours , no running no rush to get the last 5 seconds of the golden light . But than you need to have also a PB just on the spot, that is a little bit difficult to arrange. On top you always have a "romance" feeling, nearly all day

    Have a fantastic weekend

    me

  12. #12
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice one Rachel. Wouldn't change a thing. I especially like the background and sky of this. The image just gives off a nice feel.

  13. #13
    Lifetime Member Markus Jais's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Bavaria (Germany)
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    82
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wonderful Polar Bear shot. I like the vertical composition a lot. The moving pose with the raised left front leg adds some action. Wonderful light.

    Markus

  14. #14
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks everybody for the kind comments and suggestions. They are very much appreciated.


    Rachel

  15. #15
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love this - do you have any landscape orientation too?
    Ed

  16. #16
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Ed, I have to go back and look if I shot any at this particular time in landscape format. There is the pano that I posted a couple of weeks back but it doesn't have the golden sparkle.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics