Teddy Bear sunrise
Child's teddy bear perched on a log in Yosemite National Park. I couldn't resist photographing it basking in early morning spring light. It reminded...
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Child's teddy bear perched on a log in Yosemite National Park. I couldn't resist photographing it basking in early morning spring light. It reminded me of the many wonderful times I have spent at this place since childhood.
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Mar, 2017Views
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Awards
Winner in Childhood Memories Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
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DJLee
May 03, 2017
Thank you, Maggie. I was charmed when I saw the bear soaking up the early morning light!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken in a meadow in Yosemite National Park. It is one of my favorite places to watch the sun rise over Half Dome from the valley floor. That's what I was doing--and photographing--when I saw this little teddy bear on a log, seeming to soak up the light that was beginning to flood the meadow. The scene made me smile and brought back childhood memories in this beautiful place, and I wanted to create a photograph that might cause others to smile as well.Time
I took this photograph shortly after seeing the sun rise over Half Dome. To me, this is the most beautiful time of day in Yosemite Valley as the sun washes over the mountains and into the forest and meadows below.Lighting
There was just enough golden light in this section of the meadow to illuminate the bear without washing it out. I wanted the image to feel as if the bear was soaking up the sun's warmth on a cold spring morning and enjoying the dawn as much as I was. I shifted its position on the log to accomplish this effect and to create a pleasing composition. I knew this would be a "light hearted" image--just fun and nostalgic, and used the position of the bear and the lighting to help create that effect.Equipment
I created this photo with my Nikon d610 DSLR and my 105mm macro lens. I almost always use a tripod and did so in taking this image. This provides important stability, minimizes camera shake, and allows me to focus on composition rather than holding the camera steady.Inspiration
The bear held a story. Who put it there? Would its owner be back? I imagined that the owner would return and that the bear was placed there to enjoy the beautiful golden light in the meadow. I later learned that the owner was another photographer who always carries this bear in his pack, and that he had placed the bear on the log while he was photographing the meadow.Editing
This image needed very little post processing. I boosted the yellow highlights a bit, added some contrast and vibrancy, and did a little sharpening.In my camera bag
My bag includes one of my Nikon DSLR cameras and typically three lenses--a wide angle, 24-70 zoom (which is my walk around lens), and often my 105mm macro lens, which I love not only for macro work but also for portraits and some landscape shots. The bag also includes photography essentials such as batteries, cards, remote shutter release, rain cover for the camera and lens, and lens cloths. I also pack an allen wrench in case something comes lose on my tripod or camera L-bracket, an iPhone, and snacks--usually nuts and chocolate.Feedback
This was not an image I intended to create that particular morning as I photographed the sun rising over Half Dome. But it caught my eye and fancy, and since the light had begun to wash out Half Dome, I turned my focus to the little bear on a log in the meadow. I looked for a composition that would work to communicate the whimsy of the scene and properly illuminate the bear, I also wanted also to capture the dew drops on the grasses to indicate morning freshness. Additionally, I wanted to create a partially blurred background. So the next important decision was lens choice, and I picked the 105 mm because I knew it would work well, at the right settings, to get a crisp foreground focus with a softer background.
