Black Bear In My Yard

[Ed Cordes]

Our neighborhood has black bear steal bird seed from our bird feeders. This little guy came around tonight just after 6 PM. When I saw him I got the camera and went on the deck to photograph him. He just sat down and looked at me as if to say "you're between me and my meal. What are you doing there?" I was able to slowly get off the deck - but no closer and make this image.

I know it is not the best. The light was fading and it was raining out. I had to shoot hand held, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

1DMK2 with 100-400 @ 400. ISO 800 with Av and f 5.6 and 1/40 (as steady as I could with IS on). This is cropped to about 60% of original.

Thanks for looking. C&C welcome.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Wow! Great experience. I wish I live in a place where a tiger comes to my yard! Sorry. I love to dream. :-)

You did fairly well with handholding. I wish you could setup your tripod and click. It may come again.

I like the band of grass at the bottom of the frame and the small plant near its feet is nice. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Ken Watkins]

What a remarkable sight to have in your backyard, and a really good effort to hand hold without too much blur at that speed. Here's to the next time.

[Ed Cordes]

Yes, Peter, this is good. What did you do?

[Grace Scalzo]

Great image, Ed, difficult situation. What a nice treat. Thanks for sharing it.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice of him to sit still for you and that's a healthy looking bear. Nice job handheld. Peter's repost looks what I'd think to be a little more natural. I got a similar change by increasing the increasing the red Level adj, bringing in a bit more yellow on the blue Level adj, then desaturating and darkening the blue in the color adjustment sliders. I use PSE 3 so I'm sure there are better ways in a more updated editing program.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Whoa man! That's a mean beast in your yard. Hope you don't have an outdoor loo! Does it have cubs to bring for a romp on the lawn? I think your image is pretty good at 1/40th! :)

[Ed Cordes]

Whoa man! That's a mean beast in your yard. Hope you don't have an outdoor loo! Does it have cubs to bring for a romp on the lawn? I think your image is pretty good at 1/40th! :)

Thanks Akos, Actually this is a large cub! The "family" is a Mom and 2 cubs. To the best of my knowledge this cub is 3 years old.

I got a similar change by increasing the increasing the red Level adj, bringing in a bit more yellow on the blue Level adj, then desaturating and darkening the blue in the color adjustment sliders. I use PSE 3 so I'm sure there are better ways in a more updated editing program.

Thanks Steve. Selective color adjustment is something I am still learning and studying. Your post helps. Thanks.

[Mike Tracy]

I like the colors in the repost. The original is pretty neat and I love the sit down " I am not leaving until you feed me look ". Your bears are much larger then the ones I encounter in Central Fl.

[Fabs Forns]

How fortunate to have Bears in the neighborhood, as long as they behave! Love that face, total confidence in humans, how's gong to hurt such a lovely cub??? :)

Nicely done!

[Ed Cordes]

Thanks again Peter. I will practice this over the weekend. One of the things I like about photography is the continual learning curve. BPN certainly helps this a lot. Thanks to all.