Backlit Grizzly bear

[Steve Kaluski]

A few of you have already seen this when I first processed it, but I never posted the image as it was still quite early after getting back from the trip and wanted time to come back to it. Although one of you has already seen this post a couple of weeks ago, so thought I better air it here too.

Heading back to the skiff late afternoon when the opportunity arose to try shooting backlit. This is almost direct from camera, apart from a bit of USM. In it's nature you will get extremes, but I quite like the look & feel, plus it's away from the norm and very pleased to have had the opportunity to try something new. The subtle hint of muzzle in the hi res file I think is enough, but hopefully there is sufficient in the version here to. Have left it FF.

Steve

Subject: Backlit Grizzly Bear with salmon (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Location: Katmai, Alaska
Camera: Canon MKIII
Lens: 300f/2.8 - handheld
Exposure: 1/1600s at f/2.8 ISO400 -0.67 stop compensation
Crop: FF didn't want to crop (original capture vertical)

[Ofer Levy]

I love this image! The light is dramatic and it works great in here. Applied some selective levels adjustments which I feel work nicely - WDYT?

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve - this is stunning and glad to see you posting it. I love the streams of blood and water and the overall feel. I prefer the OP because I like the more muted highlights along the fur.



TFS,
Rachel

[Dumay de Boulle]

Nice idea and I like the OP...Why can you see light detail on the fish but none on the Bears face. Was that done in PP or camme out of the camera like that? Blood adds to the image....Are those flies flying around or fur?

[peter delaney]

Hi Steve

One of the best bear images I have seen in a long time.... so nice to see someone being creative and brave using a tricky lighting situation to your advantage... so A big well done!!


Prefer the OP subtle highlights ...

[Morkel Erasmus]

Steve you know I love this...prefer your OP slightly to the repost...
Ditto Peter - one of the finest bear images I've seen lately.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Lovely image Steve!

Glad that you created something different. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Gerald Kelberg]

Very exciting image. I like the way Offer's brightening of the fish has turned the story around - from a shot of "a bear with a fish" to "a fish meeting a nasty end being eaten by a bear". Seems to me to make it a much more dramatic story.
Having said that though, I do agree the highlights on the fur are a little too strong and would prefer somewhere between the OP and the panel 2.

Gerald

[Ofer Levy]

Nice idea and I like the OP...Why can you see light detail on the fish but none on the Bears face. Was that done in PP or camme out of the camera like that? Blood adds to the image....Are those flies flying around or fur?

Dumay, this is because dark areas - especially like dark fur reflect less light than a smooth wet bright surface….

[Robert Amoruso]

Steve,

A stellar image to be sure. I do like what Ofer did with it.

[Hazel Grant]

Hard to add to the above congrats, but just wanted to say I prefer the OP mainly because the fish is too bright in the repost. The sunlight hitting the fin and the water coming out of the fish's mouth in the OP add the right touch to me.

[DanWalters]

Very dramatic lighting! Love the red(blood) coming from the fish.

[Jay Gould]

The problem with the RP is the fish as much as the brighter highlights. The fish is clearly shaded by the bear's body and in the OP it is appropriately muted. In the RP the fish is too bright. I have to stay with the OP this time; Steve, great capture.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice one Steve. I like the glow of the backlight on the bear and the illuminated splashes and fin.

[Brendon Cremer]

indeed a stunning image, like Ofers repost. great use of lighting!

[Arthur Morris]

Explanations aside I am still amazed at how light the fish is. Love the image for its obviously dramatic lighting.