Haida Gwaii Grizzly's

[Aeros]

I post these to share a very exciting experience , I apologise for the poor quality of capture, but was the best I could manage under the circumstances. These photos are posted mainly for the purpose of sharing the experience. I do however invite critique,

Grizz-1 by Aeros4, on Flickr

Grizz-3 by Aeros4, on Flickr

Grizz-4 by Aeros4, on Flickr

Grizz-2 by Aeros4, on Flickr

[Shadowman]

I appreciate the effort, not something for the squeamish to attempt. Let's hope nervousness didn't account for the problems you faced. What don't you like about these images, share your camera settings, why you chose the settings and perhaps advice can be given to better prepare you next time. By the way, Grizz 1,3, and 4 aren't that bad exposure wise, just would look better if the bear were facing the camera.

[dedro]

you are braver than me richard!

[Manfred M]

Very nice. We did not see any grizzly's on Haida Gwaii, but saw close to a dozen in the Khutzeymateen.

Magnificent animals, and like you (I think) we saw them from the safety of a boat (in our case a Zodiak).

[Aeros]

I appreciate the effort, not something for the squeamish to attempt. Let's hope nervousness didn't account for the problems you faced. What don't you like about these images, share your camera settings, why you chose the settings and perhaps advice can be given to better prepare you next time. By the way, Grizz 1,3, and 4 aren't that bad exposure wise, just would look better if the bear were facing the camera.

Thanks for the question and comments John, I'll do my best to recall and perhaps get the EXIF on these shots. The light was very low as it was early evening in September, I had bought the camera Canon 7D and the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM +2 TC just in time for the trip and so was fighting my ignorance or unfamiliarity with the kit. I used fill in flash at f/11 at 640mm at 1/60 ISO 400. I had to raise the EV in Capture One almost to the top stop. The SOOC was very dark. In retrospect I can see my ISO should have been much higher, but in contradiction the noise was very high which I corrected with C1 noise filter. I feel if I could get a second go at this I would do better as I have become more familiar and comfortable with the system.

I consider these photos as throw aways due to the poor focus which was due to the very slow shutter speed which was due to the very low light and all of this exacerbated by the motion of the boat bobbing in the stream current. You are not the only one to ask about nervousness and admit I was a bit intimidated, but that soon passed. A lady in the group was far back on the opposite bank she said ..."You were so close to that bear, didn't you feel afraid? I said I was in good hands with my guide and frankly it never occurred to me about being afraid.

I knew the bear was well aware of our presence but seemed more concerned with catching salmon than looking for a fight. I was so enthralled with this chance of a lifetime I wanted to get closer. Imagine my disappointment when I uploaded these photos and looked at the results.

[Aeros]

you are braver than me richard!

I'm a risk taker, not brave but perhaps foolish, but thanks for the compliment Dednic.......is your name Slavic and pronounced Ded-nich?

[Aeros]

Very nice. We did not see any grizzly's on Haida Gwaii, but saw close to a dozen in the Khutzeymateen.

Magnificent animals, and like you (I think) we saw them from the safety of a boat (in our case a Zodiak).

Kind of you Manfred, (very nice) but the truth is, I felt like crying when I saw them on my computer, then quickly I felt so glad I at least had some kind of image (no matter the poor focus) that recorded the event. They are magnificent animals, it took all my self control plus two guides to keep me from running up to one and giving it a hug. I am a reformed hunter (worse than a former smoker) and it angers me that the BC government still issues hunting permits in this region. I would rather shoot a politician than a grizzly.

When I look at all my bear photos, sometimes I think it was not that many years ago I would have happily shot anyone of these animals for a trophy. I cant believe the transformation in my values as I can now shoot them with a camera, the photo is proof enough how macho I could claim to be if my head was still in that space. There's no one more righteous than a reformed sinner

[IzzieK]

I like your sentiments and do not despair of your shots. You have the memories of them here in these images and they are quite good, not as good as one facing the camera and menacing us here but good enough...I like the last one best.

P.S. It is a complete waste of time to shoot a politician by the way...just vote them out.

[Aeros]

I like your sentiments and do not despair of your shots. You have the memories of them here in these images and they are quite good, not as good as one facing the camera and menacing us here but good enough...I like the last one best.

P.S. It is a complete waste of time to shoot a politician by the way...just vote them out.

I love this quote [I]"Politicians are not born, but excreted" [I]Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106 BC- 43 BC. We did jut that with our votes, we gave the boot to a government that had been in power for forty seven years, the rot ran very deep. Thanks Izziek for looking and for your feedback.