Grizzly bear eating flowers
Jan, 2016Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I was driving the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge, MT towards the northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park. Two young grizzlies were in the area near Beartooth Lake. I was actually photographing flowers when I discovered the bears were also enjoying them.Time
It was about 3:30 in the afternoon, not the best time to shoot, but it was overcast.Lighting
Because it was overcast the light was soft and diffused. It also created a dark background In the shaded woods which set off the bear in front and the young tree behind him.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D60 and a Nikon 70 to 300 zoom lens. There was no time for a tripod so I threw a beanbag on top of the car to stabilize it.Inspiration
I was prepared to photograph anything I saw along the road. I was lucky to come across the bears and took a lot of shots. Two motor cycles came along and I was afraid the bears would be scared off, but the noise just caused them to lift their heads mid-mouthful.Editing
I'm still not too tech savvy so I only crop to improve composition and adjust a little for light and shadow on iPhoto.In my camera bag
I used the Nikon D60 for this shot but have since purchased a D7000 which I use the most now. I have the D60 body with a Nikon 18 to 55 zoom on it. I have a MeFoto tripod and the bean bag.Feedback
Be prepared for the unexpected and learn to see. There are times when you can set up a situation for wildlife photos, like watching a nesting crane for a month and waiting for the eggs to hatch, knowing where a heron fishes, or where a fox den is. Be patient. Take lots of pictures. With digital you can throw away hundreds of images to get one good one and it doesn't cost anything. But always be ready for a chance encounter of the best kind!
