Polar Bear

[Nancy Bell]

I am thrilled to now join the "polar bear club" with my own images! I have just returned from the far north coast of Alaska where I was able to photograph polar bears. It was very exciting to see these awesome creatures! Photographing and viewing was always from a boat or bus. I used a bean bag most of the time. This image is from a boat and the polar bear came down to the edge of the water.

Canon 1Dx, Canon 200-400 f4 L IS with internal 1.4 @560mm, 1/500, f7.1, exp. comp. +2/3, ISO 1250.

Comments & critiques are very appreciated.

[Marc Mol]

First let me congratulate you on joining the PB club, one that I'm still in line for myself, so very well done Nancy.

I like the techs & detail in the coat here considering the subdued lighting, however I find the rear BG intersecting the head distracting, do you have any others from another higher angle?
TFS

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Nancy - Welcome to the club. Fantastic first entry. Interesting how much dirtier the bear seems probably because the ones I photographed were in and out of the water and on the ice. I think Anette's were often a bit dirtier too. Great detail and you got away with the ss. I tend to always try to keep it at about 1/1600 if shooting from a boat (of course, that's sometimes not possible). Marc makes a good point about the horizon but not a deal breaker for me. Looking forward to more of your PB images.

TFS,
Rachel

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Nancy , good for you to be in that club ........ one day maybe , me too.

Nice dirty portrait with good tones and color ,sharpness just right and i like that we can clearly see the eyes.I am fine with the horizon line , even if not ideal.

TFS Andreas

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Nancy, this is superb. What a huge guy! I like the composition, the details and colour tones very much. Congrats on joining the PB club!!!!

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks all! No options on changing my position to alter the horizon line. All the bears I saw were dirty.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Nancy, I just love the detail on this bear, not sure he/she is dirty or just scruffy ( just like a Polar Bear should be! ). The sharpening is superb, not a tad of crunchiness and it all looks so natural, some nice detail in the blacks and I like the eyes (a dirty look, but I like it very very much!). Great colours and I love your PP work here, congratulations on joining the "Polar Bear Club" and what a stunner this is, well done!

Kind regards,

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks so much, Gabriela. You are always so wonderfully enthusiastic and have good observations & helpful comments!

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Nancy, a warm welcome to the PBC, grubby or not, like Tigers, Polar bears are always great to see, but ultimately to photograph, however in my book perhaps the most dangerous too.

Looks like your PP has stepped up a gear, great. Nice detail & texture and worth cranking up the ISO for more SS especially when shooting from a zodiac or boat as Rachel & I know only too well . I quite like the position in frame and the diagonal of the body/head going R to L.

Hope to see more from your encounter.

TFS
Steve

[Anette Mossbacher]

Welcome to the club Nancy. This one looks very healthy. I have seen some dirty ones as well. Hey there was no shower around for them, so we let them dirty :)
Tech look good, but I do disagree with the ss. I was able to shot from zodiac even down to 1/500sec and they are sharp.
Nevertheless, higher is better of course from a zodiac.
All is said already above, a nice good looking chap for sure.

ciao Anette