Lonely Planet...

[Steve Kaluski]

A an animal I love and have a huge respect for, however this one was quite happy to continue to walk by and not come to investigate. Shot whilst standing the pack ice, but within a scrabble of our small boat.

Thanks to those who posted or viewed the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Polar bear (Ursus Maritimus) walking through the pack ice
Location: Svalbard
Camera: Canon 1DX MKI
Lens: 500f/4 MKII with 1.4MKIII HH
Exposure: 1/2500s at f/8 ISO1000 (wasted DoF)
Original format: Landscape, very slight crop, FF width
Processed via: LRCC & PSCC2017

[John Mack]

Very nice. Love the light,snow and ice. What do you mean by (wasted DoF)?

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the exposure and the light control the slight rim lighting on the bear ans some snow looks very will managed. Wasted DOF - are you referring to the plane of focus - there seems to be more in focus in front of the bear than behind the bear, maybe this is just an illusion? I am guessing that is open sea at the top, for a moment I was going to say lose it but on reflection i think it's wise to retain it because it gives a better interpretation of the environment.

[D. Robert Franz]

Very nice environmental view of the bear.. Well done

[Steve Kaluski]

What do you mean by (wasted DoF)?

F/5.6 would have provided more DoF John.

there seems to be more in focus in front of the bear than behind the bear, maybe this is just an illusion?

Yep, an illusion Jon, or could it be that second wee dram?

I am guessing that is open sea at the top, for a moment I was going to say lose it but on reflection i think it's wise to retain it because it gives a better interpretation of the environment.

It's the skyline Jon, where land meets the sky, no sea that's the pack ice, you could see for miles, visibility was excellent that day.

Cheers Dan.

[Glenn Pure]

Steve, I love the light in this one and the warm colours of the bear against the more neutral and cooler looking ice. Take your point about DOF... and that got me thinking about creating more blur around the bear... and that lead to wondering whether a different POV could have helped. Did you take any from lower down so the bear was emerging from a blur of ice? Could have been quite interesting but maybe you tried and it didn't work? Detail, tone and colour all deftly handled and up to your usual high standard. Composition works well for me. I could also see a pano crop working.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Steve, you know how much I enjoy your Polar Bear images, and I really like the enviromental feel to this. These are magnificent animals, and it must have been really exciting to see and photograph them.

[haseeb badar]

Hi Steve -- This is a beautiful composed frame , colours look well balanced especially the whites and the golden hues are taking this image to another level . I wish the Bear had glanced towards you but we don't get everything we desire , particularly in this genre of photography . Superbly done .

TFS !

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - Nice look at the polar bear and the icy environment. I too like the rim lighting. In an ideal world the bear would be more parallel to the sensor but not a deal breaker. Why would f5.6 give you more dof? F8 should give more dof than f5.6.

TFS,
Rachel

[John Whaley]

A beautiful animal in it's natural environment. I like the lighting and the highlighted white fur. I am not sure if the horizon line adds to the composition.