Bearscape

[Rachel Hollander]

Another one from the early morning encounter on the beach. We were circling around in the water to meet up with another small group of photographers who were joining us from the opposite direction, careful not to put the bear between the two groups and giving it a wide berth. It gave me the opportunity to shoot a couple of bearscapes in the sweet morning light.

Canon 5D3
100-400 II @ 100 mm
1/1000
f5.6 (In hindsight I should have stopped down for more dof but I think the bg is sharp enough).
ISO 800
HH, ff, GND applied in post, levels, curves and sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Rachel, this is a lovely image with some great light. The DOF seems to work & the landscape and positioning of the bear is perfect. Nice one. The reflection adds to it.

[Jonathan Ashton]

This is just how I always imagined it would be in Alaska! Lovely composition, I wonder if a little judicious Dehaze would help on the mountain side. It may be me but does it need a little anticlockwise rotation?

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Sanjeev and Jon. I've actually never used Dehaze but I can take a look. I do think the very slight haze on the mountain is natural for the early morning. I looked at the various horizontal lines in the image while pp and decided to go with the grass line. More ccw rotation will result in the trees leaning to the left a bit more than I would want .

Thanks again,
Rachel

[John Mack]

I like the name of this image pretty clever. The bear with the landscape is nice. The only thing i could think is to put the bear lower in the frame.

[Mike Poole]

I like this one a lot Rachel, I'm a big fan of animals capes when you have the right BG. This one just works on so many levels, with the scenery, the placing of the bear and the subsequent reflection, and the light hitting the bear is also spot on for extra interest. A real winner for me.

Mike

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks John and Mike, much appreciated.

[haseeb badar]

HI Rachel -- You are absolutely on fire , one after another Bear image and all of them are treat to watch . This one is by far the most scenic and well composed frame. Loved it !
It appears that a bit of straightening is needed , or is it an illusion because of that shore line ?

Superbly done. TFS !

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Haseeb. Regarding the straightening I used the grass line but each line is slightly different. I think what may be throwing it off is the blue water behind the bear that is slightly angled on the beach and also that the bear is standing slightly angled toward the water. His front feet naturally will be very slightly lower than his rear.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, yes a different approach which is nice, this looks shot from above, could you not get onto the beach? Not sure why, but the BKG looks sharper and has more detail than the actual subject?? Would like a sliver more sky, it's a tad close for me, an easy fix. Interested why you added a GND filter, (NIK I assume) was it to the top or bottom? If it looks level and if your eyes think it is then fine, no need to rotate.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve - Not sure why you think it looks shot from above other than I was standing in the water while on the move as explained in my intro. GND was applied in ACR to the top to bring back some of the blue of the sky. The bear is pin sharp and has lots of detail at 100%. I think this is one that is best viewed large.

Thanks,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve - Not sure why you think it looks shot from above other than I was standing in the water while on the move as explained in my intro

Purely on the angle, but also having the FG water, that was all.

GND was applied in ACR to the top to bring back some of the blue of the sky.

You mean a Graduated filter, not a Neutral Density filter?

[Rachel Hollander]

You mean a Graduated filter, not a Neutral Density filter?

Isn't it the same thing when used adjusting the exposure only? -.50 exposure.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Terrific scenery!! Great light. Another vote for a bit more above and a bit less below, but this is a fantastic image with lots to take in. It's the streaking in the water that makes the illusion of need rotation.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Daniel, makes sense about the illusion.

[Mike Singh]

Very nice composition and tones Rachel. It really puts the Bear in it's environment.
Mike

[Mike Hitchen]

I like this one. I have a feeling of the bear sniffing the wind in search of its next meal.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Rachel, a bit late to your party, but this is simply stunning. Alaska as it should be. Love the light, the placement of the bear, and just the overall serenity of the image. An opportunity well used.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Beautiful bearscape and I love the colours and environment, dear Rachel. I dare say this is my favourite bear image of them all so far. But I am sure there's more, so please allow me to change my mind when I view the next:)

Been wondering about the need for rotation, but you were there so up to you to decide - to me it is the blue line of water above the bear that creates the illusion.

Love the warmth and that golden look of the bear, as well as pose from him as he sniffles the air in some kind of anticipation.

Very well seen and captured, thank you so much for sharing,

Warmest regards,

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Mike, Mike, Stu and Gabriela. I'm glad you all like this one.