wildlightphoto Posted October 12, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 12, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I visited Taylor Creek at Lake Tahoe today and found a Black bear (Ursus americanus) hunting salmon: The Black Bear is large and powerful, and care should be taken when this animal is nearby, but it is not as unpredictable as the larger and more dangerous Grizzly Bear (which is no longer found in California). The Black Bear evolved at a time when several larger predators, such as Dire Wolf, Saber-tooth Cat, and Grizzly Bear, would hunt this species so it still thinks of itself as a prey animal. Slow shutter speeds (dark fur and deep shade!) made it difficult to photograph all of its activities but while I watched the bear ate salmon and stream veggies. Technical stuff: R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO, shoulder stock & monopod. f/6.8 for DOF, 1/90 sec. All comments welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 Hi wildlightphoto, Take a look here Black Bear. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
leicamann Posted October 12, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 12, 2009 Lovely crisp shot... wonderful quality and detail. Thanks for posting Cheers, JRM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauledell Posted October 12, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 12, 2009 An outstanding capture. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StFreud Posted October 12, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 12, 2009 Another great shot. For me he looks a bit sad. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joachim123 Posted October 12, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 12, 2009 Nice shot, he looks real friendly just dont get him angry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted October 12, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 12, 2009 Doug - You can't fool me -- This isn't a bird. Excellent for composition, subject, detail, surviving to tell the tale, and the tale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted October 12, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 12, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Very nice, think I would want the 1.4x or 2x on. I can't run that fast after knee surgery. Cheers Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdb Posted October 13, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 13, 2009 A gift. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted October 13, 2009 Two more: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdb Posted October 13, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 13, 2009 Breathtaking. You are quite lucky to have been present in that moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted October 13, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 13, 2009 Doug - Wonderful, and I like #2 even better than the first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauledell Posted October 13, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 13, 2009 Doug - Wonderful, and I like #2 even better than the first. This time I disagree with Stuart. I love the bear's expression and position in picture No. 1. Great capture. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted October 14, 2009 Has anyone noticed the salmon in the background of the first photo? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted October 15, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 15, 2009 Got help this blind guy out where is it? The pink in the water is that salmon?? Right above the bears eyes? Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted October 15, 2009 The pink in the water is that salmon?? Right above the bears eyes? Jan Bingo! Right above the bear's eyes and nose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquared Posted October 15, 2009 Share #16 Posted October 15, 2009 Amazing pictures. Did it even know that you were there? I guess the noise of the flowing stream helped mask the shutter noise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted October 15, 2009 Share #17 Posted October 15, 2009 So do I win a prize. Doug with the 280mm you had to be from my guess around 20 feet away from the bear am I right? It had to really be busy with the salmon not to run off. The only time I saw black bears was in upper michigan when my sister chased me to the trash dump. There was 5 black bears all within 30 feet of me when I dumped the trash. But they only gave me a look and keeped digging threw the trash for something to eat. Sad I was a kid of 17 and no camera at the time. But a bear in trash would not have made a nice pictures, you really nailed the bear shots. Cheers Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted October 15, 2009 Share #18 Posted October 15, 2009 Fantastic. Thanks for giving us an insight to such a wonderful animal. Amazing shots LouisB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share #19 Posted October 16, 2009 Amazing pictures. Did it even know that you were there? I guess the noise of the flowing stream helped mask the shutter noise. There were close to 100 people on hand. I could have used the 180 instead of the 280. With the 280 I had to back up and shoot between the people in front of me. The US Forest Service was present doing crowd control. Doug with the 280mm you had to be from my guess around 20 feet away from the bear am I right?It had to really be busy with the salmon not to run off. A little over 20', maybe 25' or 30'. Lake Tahoe's bears are accustomed to seeing lots of people and as long as nobody is doing anything that could be perceived as threatening the bears will stick around. The Black Bear thinks of itself as a prey species since it evolved at a time when there were several large predators like Dire Wolf, Grizzly Bear and Saber-tooth Cats. As a prey species (psychologically) they're usually easy to frighten away if needed. The USFS guy demonstrated this when the bear started pouncing on the salmon on the near side of the creek, by clapping his hands and shooing the bear away. The previous weekend in Yosemite my brother and I did much the same (as instructed by Park Service staff) when a Black Bear wandered into our campground. Don't try this with a Grizzly bear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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