sleeping polar bears

[Nancy Bell]

Before the time is right for the bears to actually get out on the ice to hunt seals they spend much of that pre-season time sleeping or in "walking hibernation". For hours at a time I only saw sleeping bears on the gravel spit. Here is a mom and youngster. Photographed from a boat.

Canon 1Dx, Canon 200-400 with internal 1.4 @ 386mm, 1/800, f7.1, ISO 800

comments and critiques most appreciated.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Beautiful image, nice composition with inclusion of water in FG.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Nancy, a bit too central for me, pushing the subject a bit more to the right may make for a better balance, well for me, but it maybe because of the log on the LHS? The log can be removed quite easily, but depends on your ethics, however it would make for a better image IMHO. Like Sanjeev mentioned, nice to have the water in the FG to add interest, but the blacks looks solid, choking the detail, i.e. in the nose & under pad of the cubs paw, very easy to avoid in both LR & PS if that is what you choice for RAW conversion. Not much you could do with the intersecting horizon, probably about the best place.

Amazing to get so close considering the subject. A lovely moment and I like the way the cub is nestled into Mum, but then I'm a sucker for bears, especially PB's.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Nancy - Mom's paws look huge. PBs definitely spend a lot of time sleeping and hunkered down. I too like the way the cub is resting against mom and the inclusion of the water in the fg. Even the pebbles add a bit of color. Steve has covered the crit nicely above. Keep the PBs coming.

TFS,
Rachel

[Jonathan Ashton]

Absolutely gorgeous, I have to confess I was so taken with the intimacy I did not notice the rather dense blacks until pointed out. That is the only bit I would change, I don't mind the log, a little "untidiness" is natural, I think sometimes we strive to make nature a little too perfect and clean and nicely finished, I know many will disagree but that's just me!

[Anette Mossbacher]

HI Nancy, love the little one pushing itself on mom. I jump into Steve's boat with the comp, as well for me a bit central, but this is just IMHO, if you prefer it in more this way, than why not
I do not mind the log, the water gives a nice add on to this one and the colored rocks too for sure.

Have a great eve

Ciao
Anette

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Nancy,

I too, love the intimacy of the cub snuggled up to mom and for me, the only thing to change is, as already mentioned, the blocked blacks. Polar Bears are on my bucket list.

Best,
Katie

[Nancy Bell]

Thank you everyone for such good comments and advice. I'll redo those blacks, but not sure about being able to move the bears off-center. I should have thought of that in the field!!

[Dumay de Boulle]

I like this a lot. The detail and the poses are perfect. Great shooting angle and I like the dirty Bears. Nice one Nancy!