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Before the Blindside

Two yearling brown bear cubs play in the tall grass after a long winter's nap in the Lake Clark region of Alaska.

Two yearling brown bear cubs play in the tall grass after a long winter's nap in the Lake Clark region of Alaska.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark III

settings

Aperture f/6.3 ISO 400 Shutter 1/800

upload_date

Nov, 2014

Views

4730

Likes

+1k

Awards

Winner in Bear Necessity! Your Best Shot of Wild Bears Photo Challenge

Contest Finalist in Cuteness Overload Photo Contest

Featured

Superb Composition

+135

Top Choice

+125

Peer Award

+105

Absolute Masterpiece

+94

Magnificent Capture

+36

All Star

+20

Outstanding Creativity

+12

Superior Skill

Genius

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Emotions

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Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken in the Lake Clark region of Alaska in June of 2014.

Time

We were out on a morning foot safari when we came across these two cubs--and their big mama--enjoying a gorgeous, rain-free start to their day.

Lighting

As anyone who has been to Alaska around the summer solstice knows, there is light nearly all day long. In the morning and evening, however, the sun stays very low in the sky and creates gorgeous "magic hour" lighting that just seems to never end. It is truly a thrill to photograph.

Equipment

This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III, a Canon L-series EF 200-400mm (with 1.4X built-in extender) lens, and a Manfrotto tripod with a Gimbal mount.

Inspiration

I could honestly photograph bear cubs all day. They're of course incredibly cute, but it's even more entertaining to watch them play. This photo was taken a second before the blond cub slapped it's unsuspecting sibling across the snout, then tackled it into the grass. I've always enjoyed this photo as that moment of peace, just before the storm.

Editing

While I applied my typical basic RAW processing in Lightroom (exposure, contrast, noise reduction, etc.), I also did some color balance work. Green grass in warm sunlight always creates a challenge for white balance, so I did my best to make the image match my memory of the scene.

In my camera bag

As a Canon shooter, I typically run with the following: Two 5D MKIII bodies, an assortment of lenses (16-35mm f/4 L, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II, 70-200mm f/2.8mm L II, 100mm f/2.8 L, 135mm f/2 L, 200-400mm f/4 w/ 1.4X built-in extender), Manfrotto tripods, a variety of filters (ND, Graduated ND, Polarizers), tele-extenders (1.4X & 2X), Canon SpeedLights, and PocketWizard remote triggers.

Feedback

Photographing bears is extremely exhilarating and rewarding, but can also be really dangerous. Safety should always be at the forefront, as should respect for the bears themselves. In the spring, it is crucial not to disturb them in order for them to conserve their energy and focus on fattening back up after their long winter's nap. That said, long lenses are a key component to keeping a safe, respectful distance. A good tripod will then always be crucial, and I've found gimbal heads to work the best for big, heavy glass. As with any subject shot from a distance, during the hot hours of the day, you need to keep an eye out for distortion caused by heat rising from the ground. So, stay safe, shoot straight, and strive to capture those critical moments that will add intrigue to your images.

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Before the Blindside

Two yearling brown bear cubs play in the tall grass after a long winter's nap in the Lake Clark region of Alaska.

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Likes

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Emotions

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Submitted to Photo Contests

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

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sdondero

Before the Blindside

Two yearling brown bear cubs play in the tall grass after a long winter's nap in the Lake Clark region of Alaska.

Views

Likes

Awards

Emotions

Top Ranks

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

Same photographer See allBehind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

See more amazing photos, follow sdondero

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.