More from the Bear Files(plus reminder)

[NorthernFocus]

Ran across a couple of more shots from 2011 that I had never processed. And they provided me with a good reminder. We spend so much time on CIC and elsewhere arguing about the minutia of equipment specs. When that is ultimately such a small part of what it takes to make a photo. These were taken with a D7000. That's been the only DSLR body I've owned that I simply did not like. I was genuinely glad to see that one go. And yet, when I go through my image files, some of the best photos I've ever taken were made with that camera. Because the quality of those images has a lot more to do with content than with megapixels. Granted the pixel count does dictate how big one can print the image with reasonable results, but that's the icing on the cake, so to speak. And as a matter of full disclosure I'm as bad as the next guy about wanting the newest and shiniest camera.

So here are the new found two. We were pretty close to this guy/gal. Not the best shots in the world for content, but I thought worth sharing. Most people do not realize that brown bears eat a lot of grass. As a matter of fact when it comes to sheer bulk, the VAST majority of their diet consists of grass. Brown bear skat(aka dung) is quite recognizable in that the high grass content makes it look just like horse dung. And horses are fairly rare in the same environs of Alaska as the brownies.

1) It had been raining heavily. This guy was both wet and in the process of shedding the long winter coat.
D7000, 200-400mm VR, f/5 @ 400 mm, 1/1600, ISO 1600, full frame




2) This one is cropped from a full body shot. The coat on the hind quarter was pretty shabby.
D7000, 200-400mm VR, f/5.6 @ 200 mm, 1/1600, ISO 1600, cropped from a full body shot



I've posted this image before. But it is to emphasize the point about the equipment. Also shot with the infamous D7000 during the same excursion as those above. This is far and away my most popular bear image as judged by public opinion. I can't even begin to guess why


3) D7000, 200-400mm VR, f/4 @ 340 mm, 1/800, ISO 640

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Great shots Dan.
I'm curious, since I shoot a D7k, what it was you didn't like about it?

[Nicks Pics]

Those are some great bear images, the first one is colorful, and the last one is superb. I'll admit at this time all my wildlife photography has been done with a super zoom point and shoot, and I'm certainly looking forward to a telephoto DSLR lens, but even that camera hasn't kept me from taking a good shot at it! Sometimes people like images of mine that I would blow over, because subject is important to most people.

[rpcrowe]

All are great but, I love #3 with mom and her cub. That is a winner! A slight vignette might be appropriate...

[IzzieK]

I like all three of them especially the last one, Dan...that was a cutie moment. Second one is too scary for me.

[Barbara Ponder]

OMG! I just want to squeeze that Mama and her cub! Love the look in the eyes of #2 all great shots.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. The colors in the first shot got my attention, after I corrected WB. Interestingly, due to the grass and reddish/golden fur, the auto WB selected a K value of 4200. That on a rainy, heavily overcast day. Once corrected, the colors really came out.

The eye contact captured in the second shot is only captured by shooting burst mode. Continuous eye contact with bears (and many other animals) is a challenge. So when you are watching them in situations like his they are constantly glancing toward you, but their gaze never lingers. If I does you're probably in trouble. At longer range their eyes aren't so good and they will stare at you for a while trying to determine if you represent a threat.

...I'm curious, since I shoot a D7k, what it was you didn't like about it?

There were two tangible issues with it. One of them turned emotional and set my mind against the poor thing.

One of the tangibles was the mode select dial that has no lock mechanism. Every time I took the thing out of the bag it would change the mode. And of course I wouldn't notice until after a few wasted shots. That was the aspect that caused it to become an emotional issue. Plus after shooting D200/300 for a couple of years prior, it just felt... light.

The other tangible was that the AF wasn't adequate for shooting one of my favorite things, eagles in flight. It just can't handle high speed target at close range traveling toward the camera. That was the death knell.

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Dan, you know my position about your work, and these are no exception. I do recall #3 and how much I love it. #1, however, is especially wonderful for me. Really a knockout image. When I first looked at it, I could almost smell the bear (it wasn't pleasant)

[wilgk]

Awwww. Enough said.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, Matt and Kay.

[John 2]

Missed these Dan. Three lovely images but the last one is special. Great work.