Jul 30, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25486.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
While the wind finally has calmed down, the clouds have thickened up and sprinkles came and went today.
At first, I didn’t think much of Ted. Though a big male, he was on the other side of the falls, the furthest he could be from us and didn’t do much. I mean, this is how we saw him most of the day. Just staring off into the pool.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25481.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
And if he wasn’t staring off into the pool, he was like this, his head under the water. The longest time he had his head under that I saw and counted was 21sec. Was he a successful fisherbear using this style? Yeah, he caught salmon but they weren’t really big ones and he didn’t catch them that often. For such a big bear, I wondered about him. He has one big ass scare on his rear flank. I wondered if that hampered his mobility at all which is why he had the particular fishing approach. Hope he’s around tomorrow though, he’s a great looking bear and if he comes closer, he will be fun to photograph!
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 30, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25270.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
One of the two oldest bears showed up at the falls today only to find no jumping salmon. Well into his seoncd decade of life, he moves a little slowly, goes where he wants to and is given the respect and space his age has earned.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25241.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
Check out that lower lip!
This is one of those times when it’s cool to see a bear without its winter fur. You can see first hand the scars this male has earned during its life. I thought about counting all the scars but too late, but personally, I’d never seen a bear with so many. Testament to both a long life, but a hard one as well. The other old bear hasn’t been seen this year at the falls but they know he’s around because they have found his DNA dropped around. I’ll let you figure that one out for yourself.
Oh, and that thing I found by accident that I like, I do like it now that I’ve done it on purpose. I’ve shot now for the last two days with the lens wide open, f/4 or f/6.7 and between that and the 600VR or 600VR w/TC-17e, it really make the bears visually pop from their world here at the falls. Along with the amazing quality the D3x captures, the files are stunning. For me, this is a major shift in my big mammal shooting. While I think it’s something I’ll just like at the falls with the bears, it’s something to work with in time elsewhere.
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 30, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25162.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We arrived at the platform early today (won’t do that again) to find it stuffed with day trippers and a one hour limit on the platform. We also found the family snoozing next to the platform, well sort of. To get the shot, I had to go high! Coming late, I was like three rows back from seeing the action let alone photographing it. Having the Gitzo 5560 with me, I simply went up literally which permitted me to shoot over everyone heads. I’m telling ya, these guys are dynamite!
It’s raining on and off, glad I have LenCoats on the six & body, makes working a whole lot easier. Those here with plastic bags covering their gear can’t get them off fast enough when action happens.
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 29, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24636.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
A family of four showed up today, the very definition of characters in the fur. Mom is great, works hard to keep the kids and herself fed. She has three two year old cubs, one is a handful, one pretty calm and the last afraid of its own shadow.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24805.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
The oldest seen here on the right looking cute and innocent is anything but. He is a handful now and will be a pain in the ass when an adult. Already in life, he has mastered stealing salmon from his mom. Competition between cubs can be intense but this kid takes it to a new level. He even tries to steal from the males at the falls. That could be fatal but it doesn’t seem to stop him.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24775.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
What makes him even more a character is when he steals some fish, he shows it off. Seriously, he hams it up for what seems like the crowd on the platform but probably more likely it’s to rub it in the faces of his siblings. He’s a pistol!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24860.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
Then there is the smallest bear. The crowd pleasure because everyone felt it was a runt and not likely to live. Don’t think that’s the case but it didn’t stop all the ahhssss. All three cubs are in the middle of their molt, too bad because I bet by this time next month, they will be filling out with a gorgeous coat. Hope they stick around, they are fun!
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 29, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24874.swf, 396, 600 [/swf]
I take my vacation seriously! We are in total relax mode. We get up, mosey in for breakfast, upload images (and post a couple) and then after our early dinner, we head up to the falls where we stand for 6-7hrs and enjoy the bears. This works great as most folks leave just as we’re arriving to everything. The plan was working great until….
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24967.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
We reached the falls today to find the bears just staring at the water. Why? The salmon run stopped. Yeap, for the third time in a row, we’re at Brooks when there are no mass esof salmon jumping. Oh well, means we’ll have to comeback again. Hot Dogs!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24844.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
That’s OK, there are plenty of bears to watch and photograph. Most of the bears present now are full of character that they more then make up for no jumping salmon. It also gives me an opportunity to explore something I think I like, need more time to shoot and play before sharing but I think by accident I have a new approach.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG25041.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
And the wind, it hasn’t stopped, still! While not quite so nasty as the last couple of days, it still has Lake Naknek all a foam. With the salmon still spooled up in the lake, the bears are out fishing in the lake, finding the schools as you can see by standing up and looking. They are such characters!
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e (except last image) on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jul 28, 2009 | Wildlife Photography
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24405.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
The big boys in full coats are rare at the falls today. A couple of the big boys while present have shed their beautiful winter coats and now are sleek eating machines. Of course that’s what they are supposed to be, but they just don’t have that classic bear look to them. This bad boy is an exception so I kept an eye on him throughout the evening. It was dark to be shooting action, this photo taken at 1/45 (ISO 100, I don’t crank up ISO). The one shot shooting of the D3x requires working Peak of Action which caught the head sharp, but the salmon is soft.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DMLBECG24526.swf, 500, 402 [/swf]
The wind didn’t stop. During the night it blew and blew, some saying 70mph gusts. Other than some leaves falling on the tent, didn’t bother us. But it did kick up Naknek Lake into surfing conditions. And who took advantage of it? That’s right, the bears. We spotted this griz walking the shore and doing just that as we walked back to camp. I wasn’t able to get on the beach to get the surfing shot, the bear was too close and the Park Service keeps folks at a minimum of 50 yards from a bear. Oh well, the week is young and there are more pixels to fill. mtc
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
