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Sleeping between the bears


Sleeping between the bears
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul van Slooten (pvs) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-09
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A700, Sony 300mm F2.8 G, Digital RAW 400, bean bag
Exposure: f/4, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Paul van Slooten [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-11 1:33
Viewed: 1314
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi All,

Just returned from a short trip,I spent 2 days and nights in a bearhide (www.outwild.se for the ones that are interested),this was one of the best nature/photographic experiences I had since a long time and I guess the luck was as well a bit on my side this time as I met 3 different bears and had in total 7 encounters with them during the time in the bearhide,the ones who have followed me around ont TN know that I have already spent more night in bearhides (as well in sweden as in Finland)and those times I made some memorable pictures,but the quality not as I would have wanted,but this time I had it all,
as the bears are mostly noctornual,they (if) arrive during the late hours of the evening until the early morning,I had the luck that on some of the occasions they arrived with still reasonable good photolight although a fast lense is a must.

Brown Bear

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is Sweden’s largest predator. In spite of its size the brown bear is quick and agile and skilled at climbing and swimming. Just like humans, bears use the entire soles of their feet for walking unlike most carnivorous animals. They can also stand upright on their hind legs. There are slight differences between the front and hind paws but each has five toes.
Bears are omnivorous though they are mainly vegetarian. Otherwise they eat whatever is readily available, adapting their diet to the time of year. In spring, ants are their favourite food while in summer they mostly eat fresh green plants. In autumn they feed almost entirely on sweet berries. This enables them to build up fat reserves to sustain them during the winter.
Their winter rest is not true hibernation, nor is it normal sleep. It is a deep sleep during which the body temperature is lowered several degrees and the heart rate is about ten beats per minute. In Sweden bears enter their dens in October or November and leave in the spring. Cubs are usually born in January and are only the size of rats, weighing merely 3-4hg.
mayuresh, pekkavalo1, mariki, bahadir, eng55, Juyona, Gert-Paassen, MMM, ellis49, vanderschelden, meyerd, Jamesp, jeanpaul, marhowie, SunToucher, viv has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To uleko: Hi Ulla,pvs 2 06-11 10:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Paul,

Very good capture of Brown Bear in its natural habitat. Good pose, POV, BG and composition, sharp details and natural colours.

TFS

Pekka

Hello Paul,

Great picture of this Brown Bear. I like very much the composition with a short DOF giving a very good 3D effect. Excellent focus and sharpness. Excellent colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Paul, wonderful capture of this cute bear. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1147 W: 32 N: 1170] (3600)
  • [2008-06-11 2:36]

Hi Paul,
Magnificent capture.POV,details,timing,composition and visual impact are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 172] (2411)
  • [2008-06-11 3:03]

Wonderful bear and wonderful photo!
Great composition and detail

Hello Paul,
very nice captured of brown bear,beautiful composition and lighting,lovely colours.
well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2632] (15573)
  • [2008-06-11 4:06]

Hola Paul.
excelente trabajo,
detalles y sensacional pov.
disparo realmente hermoso.
saludos

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2008-06-11 4:31]
  • [+]

Hello Paul,
What a splendid capture of a Swedish Bear!! I really like your POV and its pose on the bog between the Pines and details are very sharp. Beautiful natural colours too in this fine composition.
I've just heard on the news that a Bear south of Umeå had to be shot today as it was too close to habitation. What a pity but there seem to plenty of them this year.
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

nice one, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
  • [2008-06-11 8:15]

Hallo Paul,
Inderdaad een prachtige foto in goed licht. Je moet er wel wat voor over hebben om zulke mooie opnames te maken. Maar het loont wel. Goede details en een mooie natuurlijke omgeving.
Groet,
Peter

Hello Paul,

Nice capture and pov from this bear.
Very good dof and pof with beautiful colours.

Gert

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2008-06-11 9:50]

Hi Paul
Excellent presntation.Good POV and nice natural habitat.Sharp image.Light is excellent.
TFS Michel

Hej Paul,
kanonbild av nallen.
A beautiful picture with fine composition and nice low POV.
Good sharp details and lovely colours.
I hae been looking on your site, agree with Ulla about the bear with the tree.
Mycket bra gjort.

Hallo Paul,
Beregoed!
Die op uw website zijn ook "greaaat":-)
Alleen vraag ik me af hoe veilig is die "hide" dan wel?
Bedankt
Annick

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 519 W: 68 N: 1696] (5366)
  • [2008-06-11 11:48]

Hello Paul,
SAh, the real thing, a free living bear and a close-up shot of it. Wonderful! My heartfelt congratulations.
Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 3 N: 653] (3307)
  • [2008-06-11 12:33]

Hoi Paul,

What an excellent capture, next time when I am in Sweden I want to go too.
Sharp and a very great POV.
Thanks a lot
Vivian

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-06-11 13:19]

Hi Paul

WOnderful shot of this wonderful specimen - great pose with lovely detail and colour.

James

Bonjour Paul

Excellent travail de composition.
Tu nous présente un très bel ours
Jolies couleurs et finesse du détail.
Merci et au revoir...JP

Cool shot Paul,
You've nailed the bear at F/4 isolating him well in the frame.
Great work,
Howard

Hoi paul,
Je intro foto met het orange petje is natuurlijk nu wel erg passend. En dat terwijl Zweden nu aan het voetballen is. Toen ik de titel van deze foto zag dacht ik dat je zou refereren aan een film van een Amerikaan die tussen de beren is gaan leven en dit uiteindelijk met de dood heeft moeten bekostigen. Maar het feit dat letterlijk tussen de beren hebt geslapen maakt deze foto nog indrukwekkender. Dit is echt een prachtige foto, de pose van de beer is prachtig. Als of ie aan het zoeken is naar een paar lekkere bessen. De onscherpe voorgrond geeft de foto een perfecte diepte en het detail op de beer is precies goed. Vooral het licht, de helderheid in de zachte kleur maken de foto mooi.
Groeten en dank je,
Niek

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