Polar Bear Mom and Cub(from files)

[NorthernFocus]

It seems these days I spend a lot more time cleaning up files and doing work on the computer than shooting. But sometimes it's not a bad task. Following are a couple of gems from about this time of year in 2015.

Spent a couple of hours watching this mom and cub play, nurse, nap, play... It was an afternoon of very unsettled weather with the light changing constantly from bright, golden sun to filtered overcast to snow flurries, etc. In addition to the lighting changing there are subtle differences in the processing of the two images.

Nikon D7200, AF-S 80-400mm@400mm, handheld

1) Junior had been trying to stir mom up to play and when she refused he/she finally fell asleep on top of her. Lack of eye contact is rarely acceptable. But I think this is one of those rare ones...



2) A little while later. I applied a bit of negative vignette on this one.

[Rent]

For me the fur tones in the first are better. the second seems to be one or one and a half stops over done
Just my opinion
Roy

[Shadowman]

Nice ones.

[JBW]

no eye contact does indeed work here. Snow can be painfully bright.

[Ziggy]

White on white, have to like.

[Rainforest]

Splendid shots both. That sounds like an afternoon well spent behind the camera. Do you worry about them threatening you?

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

...the second seems to be one or one and a half stops over done...

Not sure what "over done" means. Regardless I forgot to sharpen the second image so tweaked it a bit while I was at it.

2a) Removed the negative vignette, tweaked exposure -0.3, lifted midtones a bit, and sharpened.



2) per OP

[NorthernFocus]

... Do you worry about them threatening you?

They can threaten all they want as long as they don't back it up

No we shot from a boat. And the native(eskimo) guide had a rifle.

[Wavelength]

Beautiful lovely image; loved them both very much