Siblings love
Feb, 2015Views
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
All Star
Superior Skill
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This picture was taken in Kaktovik on the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. The trip was a childhood dream coming true for me in October 2014, when I was able to spend 4 days in Kaktovik to watch the amazing Polar Bears.Time
The bears are usually more active in the morning hours, so we always tried to get out early to see them. Though a snow storm was hauling through town, we started our tour by 8:30 am. We got very lucky, same as the day before and got to watch a group of animals playing around. The picture was taken around 9:30 - just one of about 350 that dayLighting
I actually had a problem with the light. To get enough light I had to use a longer exposure. A tough one with animals, so it did not work out. Instead of losing picture quality, I opted for for taking the risk of underexposed pictures - it's always possible to brighten them up after.Equipment
Nikon D 7000 with a Sigma 300 to 750 mm Zoom. No tripod, all hand held.Inspiration
As I mentioned before, a trip of a lifetime for me to finally see Polar Bears in their natural habitat. Of course, everybody wants the get "the one" perfect picture. I believe, I was just clicking away while enjoying the active bears, without going for anything in particular. Only after going through all the photos I found some that I really liked.Editing
Unfortunately I had to quite a bit. Due to the bad light all the photos came out underexposed, so I had to brighten them. Some cropping and straightening but that is mostly it.In my camera bag
It depends on where I am going and especially "how" I am going. When moving around with a vehicle, always have all my lenses and mostly 2 camera bodies with me. Nikon D 750 and D 7000. When traveling light, I am trying to get away with only the D 750 plus a 28 - 300 mm Sigma Zoom to get me the most possibilities.Feedback
If ever going to watch Polar bears, go in the smallest group possible. I have been on a boat with a max of 6 guests what allows you to move around a bit better. In this particular case, being in Kaktovik it is also important to get there in the morning. On all three occasions I was out, the first 2 hours the bears have been really active and then it slowed down. Once on a trip in the afternoon, there was hardly any activity - they were all just napping.
