How close?

[Steve Kaluski]

Late afternoon (about 5.30pm) on route back to the skiff across the soggy mud as the tide had retreated, we encountered this guy who had been intrigued with the remnants of an old salmon carcass. As we stopped and watch our scent got the better of him and he decided to come an investigate. With all gear packed away for traveling back, it was 'grab anything you could', settle down and be quiet, remember there is no jeep or hut to run to, only natures open space and bears will run faster than we can.

He steadily got closer & closer, not phased by anything, lying flat on the rather smelly ground looking up, you could here him snorting and sniffing the air as we moved towards us and his size was ridiculous, bordering on 900 lbs according to the bear guide (?). This is FF with a 16-35mm, in the haste I had left the CP on, cutting both light and SS, DOH!

Probably one of the best encounters and an awesome animal, full respect.

Steve

Subject: Close encounter with Grizzly Bear on inlet (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Location: Katmai, Alaska
Camera: Canon MKIII
Lens: 16-35f/2.8 - handheld
Exposure: 1/800s at f5.6 ISO400 0 stop compensation
Crop: FF didn't want to crop (original capture horizontal)

PS: Levels/Curves/H&S/small amount of USM

[Ofer Levy]

Awesome perspective and habitat! Would open up the dark areas on the body and face a bit more.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Fantastic scenery and love the mountains in the BKGD. I also love the low angle and the use of wide angle lens, IMO best choice as you included the enviroment and it also made this bear look huge. Agree with Ofer, shadow are to dark. Second round of beers is on me

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Ofer & Vivaldo, I did look at this during PP, if you lighten it through H/S or Curves there is insufficient detail there, due to the CP and being in shadow too, so sadly I can't see any other option to get around this. At A3 there is a bit more detail, just one of those blind moments leaving the CP on. Open to any suggestions.

You are on Vivaldo, I'll be bringing my 'BIG' mug with me in that case.

cheers
Steve

[Brendon Cremer]

Stunning coloursand Bg. The bg and low angle really make this guy look huge and the image has great impact, agree on the shadows but understand your predicament, lovely image

[Andrew Merwin]

This is a wonderful image Steve. I have been there when the excitement of a close encounter has caused me to forgot a camera setting. Regardless of the CP, I really like this image. The perspective is great. What happened when the bear reached you? Did he just sniff you & move on?

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve - great POV and colors. Too bad about the shadows. Can't believe you shot this with the 16-35 ! You are a brave man.

TFS,
Rachel

[Roger Clark]

Hi Steve,

Great capture of an astounding moment. I would work to open up the shadows.

Great story too. Reminds me of a time at Brooks camp. I and two other went north out of camp along a trail to do some macro photography of the forest floor. We had one spotter while 2 photographed. I was on my knees working on some tiny mushrooms when, in complete silence, I saw out of the corner of my eye a gigundo (one of these technical terms when your heart stops) male brown bear comes out of the forest onto the trail about 30 feet from me. I'm looking UP at him. The spotter was looking the other way. It too me a few seconds to get my camera up. Fortunately, the bear looked at us and calmly turned and went down the trail away from us. I got a nice image of his rear. The alternative would have been a macro image of his nose. So we switched to two spotters and one photographer. The image looking up at the bear is still imprinted in my mind.

So congratulations on getting the image so close. And glad you are here safely to show it us.

Roger

[Morkel Erasmus]

Awesome story and I love the perspective here...pity about the shadow detail but certainly no deal-breaker. If you had turned to polariser a bit so the sky was 'popped' dark blue it would have been even more awesome (seems plausible given the direction of the sunlight) .

How close did he eventually come...and isn't it dangerous to be lying down so close to him? I would think standing up would make you look more imposing and less like a meal? Full respect !

Did you need a new set of underwear after this?

[Hilary Hann]

Up close and personal but showing the environment, how much better can it get?

[Tom Redd]

Unbelievable!! what a capture and what a moment to experience. TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks everyone, may look again at the shadow areas in the RAW file again.

Morkel to stand, or be larger than the bear is deemed as a threatening pose, so you take the submissive approach. Lying down seemed at the time, to be the natural stance to take (don't ask), not thinking that the bear would come that close! As he slowly approached all I could hear Brad the guide saying in a quiet calm voice was, 'go away bear, nice bear, good bear, back off now', ironic that's what the bear did, a great & humbling experience. Re the CP, I didn't even know it was on there, so focused on trying to get the image, so after the bear passed and packed the kit away it was only then I realised the filter was on. Even I can get excited at times.

cheers
Steve

[peter delaney]

I like as presented........I think we can too carried away in wanting to lighten shadows and bring in detail.... shadows can create contrast and mood!

[Morkel Erasmus]

I like as presented........I think we can too carried away in wanting to lighten shadows and bring in detail.... shadows can create contrast and mood!

I certainly agree with you here Peter...I think the point I was referring to was just to have a hint of detail in the dark contrasty area viz a vie it being totally black as is now......though I do like it as posted too...

@ Steve - was the "guide" Mr Hill?

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel I thought you might make the connection, but no, just another guy called Brad who really knows his stuff. Also note, as Katmai is a National Park no fire arms are allowed.

Just deliberating about posting another from the 'Mood' folder

[peter delaney]

You old romantic...... you have a mood folder !!! lol

[Grant Atkinson]

Hey Steve, I was late on this one, that is the way to do it...Wow, wonderful perspective, good work. Til later
cheers
Grant

[Charles Glatzer]

I am all about shadows... but as presented this one does not work for me. I think you were shooting too far into the shadow side of the subject.

Best,

Chas

[Steve Canuel]

Nice angle here Steve and I like his position between the distant peaks.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice experience. A nice perspective. It would have been great if the bear would have been on your left. It is natural to forget that the polariser was on the lens when the fellow is hovering over you. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi