Polar bear with kill

[Steve Kaluski]

A cub might fall into the 'ahh' factor, but as an adult, he/she would have no issues in making you the next meal!

In the two weeks this was the only sighting of a bear on the ice pack with a kill and in good light too. The size of these awesome animals is deceiving, especially when they come to investigate the ship and stand on their back legs with their paws through the railings, just massive. Shooting from a small 1953 Ice breaker proved fun at times, especially as she gently rolled from side to side and because of this, some imagery was marginally lost through straightening of this shot. I am 50/50 as to include the gull in the bottom LH corner, but I guess I quite like it, an opportunist.

Steve
MKIII 500f/4 1/3200sec f/5.6 ISO 200 (HH, slight crop) manually metered off the snow
Minimal PS work: Curves, Levels and a hint of Vibrancy & USM

[peter delaney]

Great image all the techs perfect... have to say the incl of gull is a no from me. i think if he was side face on .. then would say yes...

lovely image.. great sighting

peter

[Harshad Barve]

great sighting , very well captured , top notch techs as usual
TFS

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Steve,
Lovely sighting. Including the complete gull with a slightly more side profile facing the bear would have worked for me. Else, the polar bear with the kill without the gull. May the polar bears live long. Having never seen them in wild, I feel you are blessed.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Pieter de Waal]

Lovely exposure and colours Steve. Like the detail you have captured and the pose with the bear totally engrossed with its meal. I tend to agree with the others with regard to removing the Gull.

[Dumay de Boulle]

WOW!!! This is a special image...I love everything about...My dream to travel to a place like this and to photograph these guys

[Morkel Erasmus]

this is certainly a dream trip for me too Steve! love the way the bright reds jump off the image
all whites expertly handled as well

I am not too keen on the gull, though, and feel it would be stronger either without it or with the entire bird in the frame, but know if you crop it from the bottom you lose some of the kill :( maybe cropping from LHS to remove it will help, without making the image appear too "square"?

[Hilary Hann]

Beautiful details in this image, as would be expected from you Steve. I'm undecided on the gull. From a purely artistic viewpoint it has to go (IMO), I'd go down the bumpy clone road with it to keep the nice cropping ratio.
From a natural history point of view, I'd keep it in as it adds to the story of the image.

[Andrew Merwin]

This is a wonderful image Steve. I really like the stars & stripes look (red, white & blue). Perfect techs.
If the entire gull were in the frame I too would keep it. However, the partial gull I find a bit distracting.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Steve, strong and simple colours in this image make it stand out. I would get rid of the gull. Good portrayal of the bears habitat, and nice composition.
TFS
Grant

[Robert Amoruso]

Nice details in the bear, snow, water and the red kill.

Evict the gull.

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve - amazing color and detail. Like the ice in the bg. I think I am in the camp of those who would lose the gull.

TFS,
Rachel

[Declan Troy]

As one who studies arctic gulls I say get more of his friends in the image, evict the bear if necessary! Actually, if you have some shots with the gulls scavenging at the bear kills I'd like to see them.

[David N Smith]

Nice capture Steve but I am like a lot of the others I would lose the gull.

Dave

[Vivaldo Damilano]

I won't mention the Gull again Top of the class Steve, really love this image, the red carcass adds lots of impact Congrates.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the time & feedback.

The 'Gull' has now moved on.

Steve

[tiziano cei]

:eek: dream shot :eek: