Aug 6, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28143.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
And Ted? He turned out to be a favorite of mine. Last year he was in a fight which left a 12″ piece of skin flapping on his flank. While the scar has healed out externally, we wondered most of the week by his actions if he hadn’t been rattled by the scar. He tended to avoid confrontations to the extreme. The last day, it was good to see him stand up for his spot, his fish and win all the confrontations. I’m looking forward to going back and see how he does. He was the last bear I photographed at the falls, a simple good-bye until next time parting shot.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28699.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We walked down to the bridge and just about ready to cross when the family with spring cubs appeared at the marsh. With that, the bridge was closed and we had to go up into the observation platform. We had about 20min with the family as they worked the shoreline and eventually ended up going into the forest right by us. With that, it was clear to cross the bridge.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28724.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We no sooner crossed the bridge and it was closed again. A big boy had come down from the falls, walked over to the water as if to make sure we were leaving. After checking us out, he turned around and went for a swim. And with that, our 2009 Brooks Falls adventure came to a close. But it is by no means the end of the story. The fall issue of the BT Journal will have all the story and all new photos from our adventure between its covers. There is so much more to tell. But I do want to thank Sharon & Jake & Kevin & Janet and the bears for making it one of those weeks you know will always make you smile.
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28607.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
I really do hate the clock! The last day was just a great experience at the falls. It didn’t matter we weren’t taking the classic Brooks bear catching a salmon in the mouth shot. Our last 7hrs at the falls were full of everything else. I have the feeling it’s what goes on when most the tourists go home in late summer. The guy near the end of the day (9PM) just sat down and looked around as if to say, “It’s all over, time to go home.” That’s the last thing I wanted to hear.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28263.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
As if having a hard day at work and now relaxing in the jacuzzi, this silly bear was totally immersed in the water except for what you see here. He did this for quite a while, almost an hour before standing up and moving around only to end up again in the same spot. He seemed resolved just to let the bubbles in the rapid tickle his butt for just a little longer.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28583.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
At the end the bears stopped challenging each other for the few salmon left at the falls. They reminded me of the old cartoon which finished at the time clock with the Sam The Sheepdog saying to Ralph the Coyote after a day of being adversaries, “See Ya Tomorrow.” I always hate leaving the bears, I always feel I’m just started to get to know them when the lens cap is put on for the last time, the gear stowed in the photopack. It’s never my favorite moment. Damn clock! mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27567.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We left the family at the lower platform, they were coming off the rocks and under the platform when we started to walk back up to the upper platform. With all the big males around, females with spring cubs tend to avoid the falls because the males will kill the spring cubs without even twitching an eye.
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Once we got back to the upper platform, I looked down the river quite often, wondering where the family went to. After a while I saw an adult come out and sit on a rock next to another adult. Didn’t think much of it until
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28328.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We watched the three cubs launch themselves into the river in an attempt to get to mom. While it only makes sense, the very size of the cubs compared to the power of the river, you’d think they wouldn’t attempt the crossing. Two almost made it to mom but the current was too swift. After a couple of minutes the current took its toll and the cubs turned around and scrambled up on a rock with their other sibling who didn’t try the current. While these aren’t the greatest of images, twigs in the way, light kinda flight, it’s the first time I’ve had an opportunity to make such a shoot so I made them. Another part of the story of what it takes to be a griz. mtc
Photos captured by (top) D3, 70-300VR (bottom) D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 4, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27668.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Spring cubs (born during the winter) are just the cat’s meow when it comes to Grizzly Bears. They are cute, funny and just a ton of fun to watch. While we had a number of cubs come to the falls during the week, it wasn’t until the last day we had this family of spring cubs.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27596.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
They appeared in front of the lower platform, we were standing on the upper one. I was going to just be satisfied to just watch them rather than run down to the lower platform. Normally when you do that, you miss something great where you were only to get down and find what you were chasing has gone. But then Kevin grabbed his 200-400VR and headed down there. The peer pressure was just too great (or the competitive nature in me) so I grabbed a camera and headed down. Thank goodness the upper platform was basically empty so we wouldn’t have to worry about our spot there.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27663.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
Kevin was smart, the cubs were still right next to the lower platform and performing. They were trying to keep up with mom, but their little legs couldn’t rock hop the river quite as well. It was one heck of a lot of fun watching them slip and slide and whine as they did their best to be Grizzly Bears. mtc
Photos captured by D3, 70-300VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 4, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28214.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
As the salmon left milling around at the base of the falls got fewer and fewer, confrontations started. Grizzly Bears know the harm they can inflict on each other so they so everything they can to avoid it. The signs are pretty obvious, they start with what appears to be a yawn. That progresses on to foaming at the mouth and jaw popping. The ears go back, the eyes move, face narrows, all to avoid coming to blows.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28284.swf, 505, 402 [/swf]
And then the explosion happens. They have the fastest right you’ve ever seen in boxing, exploding from the water and coming down on their opponent. It was that intensity that I wanted to captured with every click. These two images were taken just 4 seconds apart.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28474.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We saw more fights this afternoon than in all my years working with griz. This photo is one of my favorites. The fight is over the one thing that is tack sharp, the salmon.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28483.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
And the outcome of this fight? The bear lost his fish to the bear coming after him. The crowd on the platform was not happy by this turn of events but neither was the bear who lost his fish. That’s how it goes though. Photographically, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of making the images shooting at 1.8fps. It forced me to keep a keen eye on the action and depress the shutter release when the moment was right. I love challenges! mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 3, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28031.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
Ted’s look just about sums it up, the fishing, she ain’t so hot. At it’s peak, the river is boiling with salmon. For the last few days we could see them patrolling the waters but today, we have to strain to see fish in the water. Ted literally walked a lot of the river trying to find fish.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28252.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
Is that a spaghetti noodle or salmon he’s got there? It almost doesn’t seem it would be worth the while of a 800lbs bear to be spending energy for such a small thing, yet they do.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG28105.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
Photographically, it was a challenge to make something of such small fish. Graphically speaking, when you used a shorter lens, you could barely see the fish. So that meant getting tight just to see the fish. When you get that tight, you look them right in the eye and there’s the challenge. Catching the look that tells the story. This guy caught fish after fish after fish and as such, was target of other bears like you see below.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG27507.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Despite their size, fish are fish and with a dimensioning supply each one was sought after. So as the day unfolded the tensions got hotter. This is just the start of one bear trying to find an easy meal from another bear. mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e (bottom) D3, 70-300VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
