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Photo Information
Copyright: Eduard Baak (snowfalken) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 27 N: 495] (1788)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-16
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D, Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM
Exposure: f/4, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-30 7:17
Viewed: 2025
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my friends,

This is a second post from the encounter I had with this mother bear and her cub back in spring. You can find more informations about the Brown Bear in my previous post titled A picture for you Loot. I also explained there how I came to take this photo.
This time I thought it would be more educative to present a few bear facts and rules to follow when camping in an area populated with bears. Many bear attacks could have been avoided if the victims would have followed some basic rules. I must confess that some of them were not familiar to me either. Thank God my behavior towards this bear was good enough for not to challenge the animal.
I thought I should blur the background a bit to make the bear stand out better from the surroundings but then I changed my mind. I preferred to leave the picture just the way it was recorded by the camera. The vegetation both in front and behind the bear just shows that the picture was taken in the woods.

SIMPLE STEPS TO KEEP BEARS OUT OF CAMPING AREAS

Many people journey deep into the woods with tents and campers. They want to enjoy the beauty of the forest and see wildlife. People have had the opportunity to see an eagle soaring, playful otters splashing in a lake, a doe and her fawn sneaking through the brush or even a black bear. Seeing black bears in the woods is becoming more common than it used to be. In past years, a trip to one of any area dumps could almost assure that a person would see a bear. Now, with many of the dumps closed, bears have changed to a different restaurant - the campgrounds. The bears do not want the campers - just their coolers, picnic baskets and other items which scavenging bears might drag off. By using logic and common sense, campers can cut their chances of being hurt or even approached by bears.

These simple steps will help insure that these campground raiders will stay clear of your area:

l.DO NOT FEED WILD BEARS. Once you begin feeding a wild bear, its natural instinct to fear humans will gradually lessen and may cause it to be more aggressive and hostile toward humans when it is deprived of the free lunch it had become used to.

2. STORE FOOD IN A SAFE PLACE. Never store food in the tent. The best place to store food is in a cooler in the car. If you do not have a car along, store the food in plastic bags and suspend it high between trees. It can also be suspended at the end of a tree branch, as far away from the tree trunk as possible, at least 12' off the ground.

3. KEEP YOUR CAMP CLEAN. Bears are attracted to greasy smelling garbage, so dispose of garbage and paper plates in a trash container as soon as possible.

4. Leave your tent open when you go for a walk or away from the campsite. Bears are naturally curious and want to know what is in your tent. They will go in, even if the tent is not open.

5. REPORT PROBLEM BEARS. If a bear continues to visit your campsite, notify a game warden or the National Forest Service so they can keep track of the bear and have it moved if it continues to cause problems.

5. STAY AWAY FROM BEAR CUBS. Although these little fur-balls may look harmless, a mother bear who has been separated from her cubs poses the greatest threat. If she senses that her cubs are in danger, she may turn violent very quickly. When you see a bear, stay calm and head for your car or camper right away or just get out of the immediate area. Do not run. Shouting in a stern voice may or may not scare the bear away. Usually the bear will run first, often at first sight of you, and you both end up running at full speed in opposite directions. If all else fails, climb a tree. Bears are not likely to climb the tree when someone is already in it. They may camp down at the bottom of the tree and wait for you, so be prepared to stay awhile. If you are carrying food, throw it as far away from you as possible. Give the food to the bear. Once the bear smells food, you might as well give it up - the bear isn't leaving without it.

By learning to deal with animals in the woods, your stay in the Northwoods will be safer and more enjoyable.

Source

www.exploringthenorth.com

EXIF

ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/125 seconds
ApertureValue - F 4.00
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm
White Balance - Auto

PP in CS2:

- RAW to TIF to JPG;
- selective sharpened with high pass filter;
- darkened the cut wood a bit using the burn tool;
- cropped, resized, added frame and signature.
PaulH, earthtraveler, MMM, Patleboss, Nephrotome2, mirceax, Evelynn, cataclysta, Servane, uleko, Argus, Aramok has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: Multumesc!snowfalken 1 12-25 02:43
To Aramok: Thank you!snowfalken 1 11-19 06:46
To claudine: Thank you very much!snowfalken 1 09-11 05:44
To uleko: Thanks for your critique!snowfalken 1 09-04 12:03
To Xplorator: Thanks for your critique!snowfalken 3 09-03 06:59
To mirceax: Multumesc pt. critica!snowfalken 1 08-30 14:12
To Nephrotome2: Thanks for your critique!snowfalken 1 08-30 14:06
To earthtraveler: Thank you very much!snowfalken 1 08-30 14:03
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2007-08-30 7:27]

Hi Eduard,
i'm glad you didn't blur the surrounding vegetation here as it's great to see this fine looking Bear in her natural surroundings. The OOF leaves at the bottom of the frame help create a sense of looking through the foliage from a hidden position too.
The eye contact suggest that she was very aware of your presence, which must have very exciting, if not a little unnnerving. Great detail in her healthy looking coat and good exposure under the trees. I like your notes too, although alas Bears haven't been seen my part of the world for quite some time!
thanks,
Paul

Hi Eduard
Funny. What a tree hugger she is.
May be she's sad the tree has been cut?
Nice capture of the bear and cub in the woods.
Good thing you mentioned the cub. I hadn't seen it peeking around mom's rear. So cute. Good focus, comp, POV, Dof.
I like the BG.
TFS
Richard

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2007-08-30 8:21]

Hi Eduar
Very nice composition.The image is very sharp with nice details in the fur.The POV and colors are very nice .Good eye's contact.
TFS Michel

hello eduard,
you have captured a fine pose of this brown bear, looks as if the bear is deep thoughts, i liked the pov and the way you have composed the shot, sharp image, lovely colours,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Eduard, impressive and wonderfull shot of this brouwn bear wonderfull vivid colors and sharpness, perfect focus and lovely composition very well framed,
thanks for shared
Pat

Excellent capture of a rare specie in the wild.
Funny pic as well as it indeed give the impression that she is sorry about her best tree now shopped down.
The unblurred background is not disturbing as it is. I'm glad you didn't blur it. It is hard to do it in a un-noticable manner. I see too many posting in which the post processing work can be guessed.
TFS
JM

hi eduard,

amazing picture and eye contact!!super super action.great image!and the cute lovely little cub behind,lovely!
tfs
caroline

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 172] (2411)
  • [2007-08-30 11:22]

Funny picture. Wonderful bear!

Salut Edi,
O adevarata imagine de wildlife.Culorile sunt excelente iar personajul(personajele-in spatele mamei vad si un pui un pic nedumeit)super faine.Cel mai mult imi place cum ai reusit sa surprinzi privirea ursoaicei care parca vrea sa-ti spuna ceva.
Ce sa mai zic, sunt un pic invidios ca vara asta cand am fost in Ro nu am reusit nici o poza buna cu ursuleti, dar in toamna o sa fiu plecat o sapt in Nord, unde sper sa gasesc ceva ursi negri.
Felicitari si multumesc.

Mircea

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 0 N: 719] (3295)
  • [2007-08-30 12:55]

Bonsoir Eddie
Félicitation pour cette superbe prise, Bravo
Amicalement Robi

This is a nice capture of a bear in a semi natural setting (human sawn tree is unfortunate... but aren't they just about everywhere?) The sharpness and rich color gives this impact.... along with that eye contact. She's watching you but doesn't look too perturbed.

Nice work.
TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-30 20:16]

Hello Eduard

Wow this is amazing.A wonderful capture,what a moment.

Just marking the post for now

Rob

Hi Eduard
These two photos of bear are the best photos of this animal (taken in natural environment) that I ever seen on treknature. Beautiful colors, great light and sharpnes and he is rely looking at us :-)
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Excellent pics, almost impeccable English comments, maybe a little bit moreabout the place itself would help market it to "locals" in a pleasant manner. Intr-o simpla fraza, inafara de titlu unde trebuie mentionat pentru a fi postat nu ai zis un cuvant despre Romania sau locul unde ai facut poza. Sper ca nu te supara comentariul meu. Nu zic ca trebuie sa faci lauda sau prozelitism, dar noi toti zicem ceva si despre loc in sine. Inca odata imi cer iertare daca e cu suparare.

Mais il est né pour être modèle de photographe cet ours! ;-)
Cette pose lascive, bien des mannequins tentent de l'avoir..
Trêve de plaisanterie, j'aime beaucoup ce cliché naturel mais dommage que tu n'aies pas pu éviter ce premier plan gênant.je me doute qu'il était difficile de faire autrement et un cadrage plus serré ne serait pas bienvenu..
Pas toujours facile de faire des clichés idéaux dans la nature.

Amicalement.

Servane

Hello Eduard

Very beautiful and very sad!!

Best Regards

Marina

wow,
eu chiar vin la Brasov odata...


Lucian

Salut Eduard
Superba fotografie, extraordinar subiect!! Sunt mandra ca Romania inca mai are "wildlife", si sper ca aceste magnifice vietati sa nu dispara niciodata din tara noastra!
Numai bine, Oana

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2007-09-04 11:16]
  • [+]

Hello Eduard,
I've just discovered your three posts of this Brown Bear, all brilliant! I'm surprised though that you could get as close as 15 metres when she had young cubs. Was she used to people? She's obviously been tagged and is being kept under observation. Anyway I love your captures, they're very sharp and colours are beautiful. I like the natural settings too.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2632] (15573)
  • [2007-09-04 15:29]

Hola Eduard,
preciosos retrato,
bello pov,
exquisito ambiente y detalles,
la luz es perfecta.
buen trabajo,
saludos

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2007-09-06 10:01]

Hello Eddy,
I like the way you captured this Brown Bear spread out over the logs, with a glimpse of her cub behind her: it is as if she is using the logs to make a boundary. May I complement uo on your composition: it is perfect!
The sharpness and other technical qualities are good too, all of which make this an excellent image.
Well done and thanks for sharing,
Best wishes, Ivan

Hello Eddie,
What a nice and sweet picture! This title is much appropriated! I love this eye contact a lot; I would have been so impressed having living this moment! This animal is a real beauty. Your notes are very interesting. I must say that I knew all those advices being a camper since I'm a child. It might be for that reason that I never saw a wild bear :(

This year, a section of the Mont-Tremblant National park had some problem with wolves as people used to feed the deer and the wolves, as their predators followed them to some campsites. They became too friendly with the campers. One park keeper told us an anecdote about a wolf sitting at night near a fire camp where people were cooking meat... They never noticed him until the park keeper suddenly clapped its hands to scare him away... He told me that because people in this area are feeding the deer, the wolves were acting almost like dogs which is a serious problem. It was on the newspapers in the entire province here. They even talked about capturing those too friendly wolves to kill them and investigated what might be wrong about them; a real pity (I don’t think that it happened though). Even if the rules are very clear when you enter this park, some people just don't seem to understand the importance of not feeding wild animals... Again, thanks for this great picture and very interesting notes.
Claudine

Hi Eduard

what a wonderful shot of this brown bear. the compositionis excellent, the sharpness, DOF and colours are spot on and the notes are excellent.

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2173 W: 219 N: 4384] (14904)
  • [2007-12-24 15:35]
  • [+]

Salut Edi

Vazand ca n-ai mai apucat sa postezi nici o imagine de ceva vreme, m-am gandit sa-ti urez "Sarbatori Fericite" prin una dintre cele puse anterior.

Dupa cum cred ca ma mai spus, imi place mult intreaga ta serie de poze cu ursii nostri dragi :)
Asta de aici chiar e simpatica iar momentul si figura pe care ai reusit sa o prinzi aici sunt chiar nepretuite. Privirea aceea din ochi e nemaipomenita iar contactul vizual dintre tine is ea adauga mult la valoarea fotografiei.
Imi place de asemenea ca se intrevede si puiutul (cred) acolo in spatele ei...asa mai fricos el, dar curiozitatea se dovedeste totusi prea mare :))
Oricum, se pare ca multa lumea ti-a spus multe lucruri frumoase despre imagine asa ca singurul lucru pe care i-l mai pot face eu e sa te felicit pentru ea si, in aceasta perioada a anului sa-ti urez un Craciun cat mai cald si fericit alaturi de cei dragi si un An Nou cat mai bun, plin de realizari, succese si vise implinite :)

Sarbatori fericite si TFS
Horia

PS: Sper ca nu stai de geaba si mai iesi si tu pentru cateva poze...macar cateva peisaje de munte ;) (haha)

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