Third time's the charm - GTNP Grizzly

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DRwyoming

DRwyoming

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I've come up dry in my last two trips up into the park looking for bears but woke up to light rain and high overcast in town and thought the soft light would hang on for a while so I headed up to the park. Got lucky and came across this youngster the locals are calling Bonita just as she crossed the road. She spent most of the morning digging up roots and was still out and about at noon but the clouds had mostly dissipated by then and the light was getting pretty harsh.

On the road for a couple of days so haven't really looked through the whole shoot yet but here's one that looked decent straight out of camera when viewed on my laptop screen.

Nikon D5, 600mm @f/4, 1/1250", ISO 320
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Thanks folks!

Here's one from a bit later in the morning as the sun started burning off the clouds and melting the snow. I liked getting a glimpse at those claws though they looked awfully big through the viewfinder :)

D5, 600mm f/4 @ f/4.5, 1/1250", ISO 560
D51_7429-2.jpg
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bsinc1962 said:
Well done Dave. I haven't seen this bear yet.
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Thanks Bill. I hadn't seen her before Tuesday either. Apparently she's one of Blondie's and has a brother. There seemed to be some debate as to whether she was two or three years old among the folks I talked to.
 
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Great shots, Dave. Particularly like the second one with the claws and the dappling of yellow with those dandelions or buttercups in the background. Oh how I love to see bears in my viewfinder. Hoping to do so later this summer.
 
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Dear Dave
I really like that second shot, the face of the bear is so animated and has an intersting expression. Those claws do look really big! Glad you did not crop it too much for those of us on the forum with weak hearts!
Thank you for sharing.

Karl
 
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Udall1973 said:
Wowzer, great captures. When I am in GTNP I am never alone when a Grizz like 399 is spotted. I am joined with at least 30 other photographers including Tom Mengalson! It's nuts. View attachment 18565
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Great shot with the cubs!

Yeah, the longest I've been alone with a roadside bear in the Tetons is about five minutes when I just happen across one walking out of the woods but that's pretty rare these days. It happened more often back around 15 to 20 years ago but those days are long gone. On this particular morning even though Bonita walked across the road just ahead of me as I drove towards Pilgrim Creek there were already half a dozen cars parked roadside waiting so I was far from alone. I was in a good position and focused on capturing images but when I looked up about twenty minutes later there must have been fifty cars parked and people wall to wall.
 
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Great images. I'm getting excited. I leave for GTNP on 5/19 and am staying out there for a couple weeks. I've never photographed a grizzly and hope to capture my first images of one or some. Been out there twice for landscapes in the fall and have been cursed with smoke from fires. This will be the first time out there with the specific intent to shoot wildlife. The Nikon 500pf is my longest focal length. I was not planning on using it with the 1.4 tele since I've not heard much in the way of favorable results with that combo. The backorder of the 600mm f/4 was a disappointment. Probably a good thing...I'll get the Z9 with the mirrorless 600f/4. First I have to win the lottery. I have done a lot of research so am hoping that all the preparation meets the right opportunities when out there.
 
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I took this photo in Denali, in the rain, from the open window of a bus. The grizz was about 100 yards away and working hard digging for roots, berries, and grubs. Lots of bears around and he was mindful of them, constantly checking his six. D850 with 200/500mm f5.6. I just love photographing these apex predators.
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Udall1973 said:
I took this photo in Denali, in the rain, from the open window of a bus. The grizz was about 100 yards away and working hard digging for roots, berries, and grubs. Lots of bears around and he was mindful of them, constantly checking his six. D850 with 200/500mm f5.6. I just love photographing these apex predators.
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I'm with you on shooting these big bruins. Could never get enough. Another beautiful image...and from the bus too...really well done.
 
DRwyoming said:
Thanks folks!

Here's one from a bit later in the morning as the sun started burning off the clouds and melting the snow. I liked getting a glimpse at those claws though they looked awfully big through the viewfinder :)

D5, 600mm f/4 @ f/4.5, 1/1250", ISO 560
View attachment 18449
Click to expand...
Pretty face on this one. Expressive. Great photo.
 
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