Randy Dykstra
October 2020 - Nursing Bear Cub
Original
About the Image(s)
Here is a photo I just took a couple days ago in Yellowstone National Park. Minimal processing other than crop and typical LR adjustments
This is a bear named Raspberry and her cub this year. Her older daughter "Snow" had just come through, forcing Raspberry to head up a hill to prevent a confrontation.
(other bears are not very tolerant of cubs). Once Snow left the area, Raspberry calmed down and it was time to feed. This is not an activity that is seen by many people.
Nikon D850, 500 mm f/5.6 settings: ISO 4000, f/5.6. 1/800 sec
This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted
Randy, great capture. The large file from the D850 paid off allowing you to create a very tight crop, and still have enough resolution for detail. Your PP brought out nice colors. I like the way the mother bear is sitting upright and using the fallen tree as support, which also frames de image. The whites (snow) are well handled and not overexposed. Posted: 10/17/2020 14:29:45
Randy, Lucky you to witness this. I was in Yellowstone and the Tetons around the last of September and missed seeing bear 399 by a few minutes before she went into the woods. Your image looks really soft on my monitor, probably due to the large crop. You were lucky to capture a great moment with the cub nursing. There were so many people in Yellowstone that it was difficult to get around. Bruce Posted: 10/21/2020 13:22:35
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons were definitely more crowded than norm. I've been going there in the fall for a number of years and this is by far the most people I've ever encountered. The image is softer than I would like but considering it was taken less than a week ago, and I haven't had a chance to cull all my images (20K) I may have a better option. I was just excited to share such a moment. Of course it means more to me since I was there. What's odd is the claws are very sharp but the face hairs are not. Also ISO was up there a ways. Considering I was 300-400 yards away.. I'm not sure why just yet. But my final disclaimer... Its as sharp as the wildlife photographer's of the year photo of a grizzly eating an elk... Posted: 10/21/2020 21:03:27
Randy, what a wonderful catch! Those claws are so sharp. It's a good thing that Mama Bear did not see you while she was taking care of her baby. They look so peaceful. Posted: 10/22/2020 14:38:25
What an experience to capture. I love the way the mum seems so relaxed just setting there! You obviously know Yellowstone very well!
I'm sure if you had to you could push the image through Topaz or similar to make the softness less of an issue. But I really enjoyed looking at your image. Thank you. Posted: 10/30/2020 12:18:54
I'm sure if you had to you could push the image through Topaz or similar to make the softness less of an issue. But I really enjoyed looking at your image. Thank you. Posted: 10/30/2020 12:18:54
What an experience to capture. I love the way the mum seems so relaxed just setting there! You obviously know Yellowstone very well!
I'm sure if you had to you could push the image through Topaz or similar to make the softness less of an issue. But I really enjoyed looking at your image. Thank you. Posted: 10/30/2020 12:18:56
I'm sure if you had to you could push the image through Topaz or similar to make the softness less of an issue. But I really enjoyed looking at your image. Thank you. Posted: 10/30/2020 12:18:56