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Thread: Black Bear

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Black Bear

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    I just returned from a week in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I thought I would add a bit of diversity to the recent postings. I had an excellent black bear sighting in Yellowstone as it worked a hillside eating. I was one of the first at the sighting and was able to move the car a few times to get ahead of the bear as it walked along. Although closer than the required 100 yards, it was because of the terrain of the area and I had a Ranger right next to me supervising the bear jam and sighting. Exposing properly was a bit tricky as the bear kept moving through patches of shade and sun. Here it was in the sun just after 8 a.m. For those unfamiliar, black bears are smaller than grizzlies and actually come in many colors including black, brown and cinnamon.

    Canon 5D3
    300 II
    1/2000
    f4
    ISO 800
    Monopod from roadside, ff, reduced exp, levels, curves, color adjustments and sharpened in PSCC.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel

    Bear well processed with amazing detail.
    Personally I find the surroundings a bit over-powering in this image- maybe a tighter crop or reducing the greens a bit?
    My eye keeps on going to that rock...
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Welcome back Rachel

    I like the bear and I like the rock too, it balances the frame IMO. Because of its presence the subject is not "lost" in the vegetation. Andre and I agreed to disagree on this one, LOL.

    Great techs and well exposed, great colours too: love that glossy coppery red of the bear's coat and the raised fur on its back makes me think he is chasing something:)

    Just curious, was the catchlight in the bear's eye there or you added it? Knowing your ethics I gather it was there. I am just trying to solve my own dilemma, I recently viewed a wonderful post from Andreas in Avian where just about everyone said all was great but the subject would benefit from a catchlight. I do not mind cloning a thing or two but somehow I dislike the idea of adding something that wasn't there

    A well processed and presented image, sharpness is there in good measure, very nice detail. I like to see this Bear tumbling down the slope, he seems in a hurry and there's a slightly agro expression on his face which makes things more interesting for me.

    Very well captured Rachel, thank you so much for sharing

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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  6. #4
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Andre and Gabriela. Much appreciated as always. No disagreements on my account please. Gabriela - Nothing added, nothing removed. You are correct the catchlight was there.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Rachel!

    Not to worry, when it comes to PP work myself and Andre disagree on certain issues...Thank goodness for this, because IOO (in our opinion) this is what makes our images look different, LOL

    Err...Did I mention how much I love those rich colours/ tonality on your Bear?

    Cannot wait to see the rest of the images...

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Rachel -- I really liked the way you have exposed the Bear and managed to get those lovely details inspite of challenging circumstances . Very well done on that count . I have absolutely no prob with that rock and also the green vegetation is making the Bear quite distinct .

    TFS !

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  11. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, nice to see another bear and a change from the 'white' ones.

    Framing wise, I'm OK, likewise the diagonal position in frame. Regarding the techs, I wondered about f/2.8 as you were very close, but with that kit you could have easily HH. Personally I think it's running a bit too warm in the WB and I think just edging on the more cooler side with some teaks of the yellow, Blue & Greens may just bring a bit more into the overall capture, but just my take and not a deal breaker.

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel ,
    as we have not seen a Black Bear for a while well worth posting .
    Like the way you processed this with a good overall tonal range and very good detail in the bear , well handled light conditions .
    I also think the bear does look a bit lost in all that greenery .... bit i think for me it is because of the not ideal shooting angle ... but you had no chance to avoid it , so you could not make it better at that point , my guess .
    So under the circumstances you did your best , i think
    I can see where Steve is coming from ... regarding the WB ... but as color is subjective i will say it does look ok to me

    TFS Andreas

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Nice to see a "blackie", Rachel, and good to hear you had good sightings too.
    I like the diagonal line of movement, would perhaps crop some off the top? Light does look quite bright, not unlike our African "8am" light :)
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Hi Rachel, Looks as though you had a good trip out my way.. You handled this exposure nicely and the sun of course had been up for 2 1/2 hours already that time of year... Hot rock distracts a bit, great to have the catch light.. Well done... Let me know how the trip went

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  19. #11
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everybody, much appreciated.

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