More hidden files - bears

[NorthernFocus]

One thing I'm loving about learning LR is that it's making me go through a lot of old files that were never fully culled and processed. This time I was importing files from a trip to Lake Clark NP that I took a couple of years ago. I had gone through and selected the obvious top picks from the shoot and never went back to finish the job.

During that trip, we ran across a brown bear sow with two second season cubs. They were sleeping on the beach in drizzling rain, waiting for the tide to fall so they could go clamming on the mud flats. They were quite tolerant of our presence and we spent a good 15-20 minutes in there presence. The biggest challenge was getting all three bears in the frame and getting them with their eyes open at the same time as they dozed on the sand.

The first time I processed the files, I pulled this shot out as the best of the bunch. I've printed this one as a 20in.x40in. canvas and it is really a nice piece.

Nikon D7000, 200-400mm f4 VRI, monopod
Processed with PSE8.



These next two shots were hidden in the files, unrecovered until this morning. The second cub was a few feet from the mom and sibling. The only way I could get them all in the frame was to move to position with an awkward angle. And the mom looked just like a big dog with her chin resting on her paw.

These two processed with LR5.3.

[Brownbear]

All truly precious. Gorgeous! It is really nice to hear that they were processed with Elements and Lightroom.

[wilgk]

They are wonderful Dan, I am a recent newbie to Lightroom, so will look forward to your replies when I ask for advice!

[Mike Buckley]

I've printed this one as a 20in.x40in. canvas and it is really a nice piece.

Duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do get your point, though, because the other two are most definitely keepers.

[FlyingSquirrel]

When I saw that you started a thread with the word "bears" in it, I clicked immediately. Very nice, Dan. #1 is absolutely incredible!!

[Bobobird]

Glad you picked them out. All 3 are great though #1 is a real standout shot.

[Shadowman]

Very nice images.

[deetheturk]

Dan,super images,well done and thanks for sharing!

[IzzieK]

Oh Dan....how cute they are...do you go fishing nearby or do you have to fire up the flying machine?

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Izzie, access to Lake Clark NP requires either a plane or boat ride.

[IzzieK]

You know the best people we found the best in spot landings and short field take-offs are all Alaskans? Just saying...

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Izzie, access to Lake Clark NP requires either a plane or boat ride.

[Saorsa]

You know the best people we found the best in spot landings and short field take-offs are all Alaskans? Just saying...

If you fly in Alaska and aren't good at spot or short field landings, you don't live to fly in Alaska much longer.

[flashback]

I'd love to know your contacts at Lake Clark. My cousin has been acting manager there.

[NorthernFocus]

I'd love to know your contacts at Lake Clark. My cousin has been acting manager there.

Where? Manager of what? The Park itself? Is your cousin with the NPS?

[IzzieK]

During our nationals, when we knew that some of our Alaskan members are attending, we hold off the short field and spot landings games and just go with flour bombings and other sports instead -- they always win hands down. It was so unfair...

If you fly in Alaska and aren't good at spot or short field landings, you don't live to fly in Alaska much longer.

[Donald]

Coming a bit late into the thread, but felt the need to acknowledge a set of wonderful wildlife images.

What really grabs my attention are mum's claws! Built for destruction!

[Downrigger]

Hard to imagine a nicer wildlife image than the first.
I'm seeing "monopod" there and wondering how many of those 400mm you were using and how close you were to your vehicle. Not that mom looks that aroused.
A real inspiration to look at these...

[bnnrcn]

Sorry for being so late but these are so wonderful images,I most like the first one but the others are very nice too..Congratulations

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Donald, after hundreds or even thousands of photos of a given species, it finally sinks in what the successful ones have in common. With brown bears nearly all of the images that I'm really happy with include the claws.

Mark, I shot extensively at 400mm with the monopod. I tried to keep ss above 1/1000 and on this particular trip did not engage the VR as I recall. We weren't near a vehicle but were with an experienced guide. These photos were taken at Silver Salmon Creek which is where many pros take their workshops for brown bear. Nearly any images that you see that the bears aren't actually in a lake and that are reported as Lake Clark NP were likely taken in this area.

This sow was not a very good mother by bear standards. She frequently allowed her cubs to get as much as a hundred yards from her. In this situation over the course of 15-20 minutes she never even registered enough concern to lift her head off of her paws.

[Nancy Moran G]

We're glad you went back and found these beautiful images. Yes, the claws are just incredible.
I worked at Yellowstone N. P. in 2009, the year they had 2 deaths by grizzly bears. Extraordinary animals!
More shots, please...
Nancy