The Last Frontier Bearscape

[Rachel Hollander]

This will definitely be one of those marmite type images and I think really needs to be blown up large for the best effect. On my last morning at Silver Salmon Creek the low tide was in the early morning. National park rules allow you to be out in the field as of 6 a.m. so that was when we ventured out. As we got to the beach we saw a lone, young boar roaming the tidal flats. The vastness and emptiness of the area struck me as did the early morning colors and I also liked the clouds in the sky because most of the week there had been none. So while our guide was scanning the area with his binoculars I took a wide image. Alaska's nickname is "The Last Frontier" and I wanted to capture a bit of that feeling of there being nothing else out there - the bear and a few seagulls - for miles and miles. I did think about posting it in landscapes but decided it's really about the bear in the environment.

Canon 5D3
100-400 II @ 100mm
1/1500
f11
ISO 400
HH, ff, levels, curves, selective burning, LCE, sharpened in PSCC.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Mike Poole]

I love the concept here Rachel. The vastness of the scene coupled with the early morning colours are lovely. I agree that this needs to be seen in print and quite large at that for the full effect.

As it stands as a web shot I think the bear needed to be a little more dominant in the frame as he is too 'lost' as presented her for my taste - and I love animalscapes!

I do like the thinking thats gone into the shot though

Mike

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the concept also. I appreciate it was probably subtle in colour terms but I think I would be tempted to boost colour and contrast slightly in the sky (not the sand I don't think it works.)

[keith mitchell]

Rachel the sort of picture I love to view,think it's good to look for the main subject and do like the feel of the vastness whole scene.

Keith.

[Gabriela Plesea]

I too love this scene and flow of the landscape, Rachel. Your image captures the beauty and vastness of this land beautifully, the clouds usher in a degree of tranquility and those peppered tiny silhouettes portray a kind of collective loneliness.
Your frame does make me think of a canvas. Hmmm...I really think you should print this, wonderful work my friend

Warmest regards,

[Glenn Pure]

Rachel, I like the subtle colours as presented as they add to the air of early morning tranquility, of creatures awakened and starting to go about their business. Agree, this would look better as a large print. Given the small size of the bear (you might want to fix the typo in your OP on that), I do think this is closer to a landscape though. But I'm being a pedant and apologies for that. I like the light angle used here and the 'specks' of birdlife dotted along the shoreline add. Of course, the clouds really make this. Thanks for sharing.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks all. Glenn - I don't see a typo. If you are referring to "boar", it's correct. Male bears are called boars, females are sows.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[greg cowle]

Hi Rachel, As one who has a large print of a PB on my wall, not much bigger in the frame than your brown bear, I am a fan of this type of in-the-environment photo. This does a great job of emphasizing the vastness of the wilderness. For me I'd maybe like the bear a bit more dominant, but in this case it would reduce the vastness, so a hard choice.
Greg

[haseeb badar]

Hi Rachel -- Loved the idea behind it and definitely a large print will do justice to it. The small in frame in a wide expanse really works for me and here you have also managed to get the mood of the environment . This is very nicely processed and framed . Superbly done.

I could see another version with a lesser FG .

TFS !

[Glenn Pure]

Thanks all. Glenn - I don't see a typo. If you are referring to "boar", it's correct. Male bears are called boars, females are sows.

Thanks again,
Rachel

Well, I've just learnt something new! Thanks Rachel

[Abhijit Deshpande]

Wonderful image!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks again everybody for the kind comments and suggestions. As always, they are very much appreciated.

[Gerald Kelberg]

Love the concept and the execution - wonderful feeling of vast outdoor space.

For me, I would be tempted to crop the foreground above the area of specular highlights on the left side - partly because the distract my eye a little and partly because I like a more panorama format.

Made me want to get outdoors again!

[Steve Kaluski]

I like this very much Rachel, the 'strata' likes makes for a very 'graphic' image, but I'm not a fan of the techs. Having a slightly darker FG I think would help.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Gerald and Steve, much appreciated.