How about some GRIZZLY BEARS?

The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
edited February 19, 2009 in Wildlife
Here are a few shots from my trip to Katmai a few years ago. Oh how I would love to go back! The best wildlife shoot I've ever had! Here is a link to see all the shots from my gallery.
http://samswartz.smugmug.com/gallery/6133694_qdgZq#130596904_7zw3s

ENJOY.....

#1 "The kiss of death"
130596904_7zw3s-M-4.jpg

#2 Bear fight....
295482099_CrW4D-M-1.jpg

#3 This was close enough!
130595403_5AozH-M-2.jpg

# 4 & 5 Tom mangelsen still has me beat with the "catch of the day" Which is why I have to go back. =)
152253694_R8iqf-M-1.jpg463191409_8LS3t-M-1.jpg

# 6 They were every where!!
130596507_AfsYV-M-2.jpg

#7 & 8 They were hungry!
463193397_2EPsQ-M.jpg463175846_KNivz-M.jpg

#9 This one was cute!
130599819_Vq9Tb-M-3.jpg

Well I hope every wildlife photographer gets to shoot here some day! This place is amazing! So lets get this snow to melt so we can go shoot!!
The Wild Eye

Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

"Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

www.SamSwartz.Net

Comments

  • 80weeks80weeks Registered Users Posts: 97 Big grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Wow!!thumb.gif Just amazing photos.
    http://80weeks.smugmug.com
    http://80weeks.blogspot.com
  • jeffmeyersjeffmeyers Registered Users Posts: 1,535 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Really cool. Great shots! thumb.gif
    More Photography . . . Less Photoshop [. . . except when I do it]
    Jeff Meyers
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    jeffmeyers wrote:
    Really cool. Great shots! thumb.gif
    80weeks wrote:
    Wow!!thumb.gif Just amazing photos.

    Thanks guys!! It's an amazing place!
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Outtsanding set. clap.gifclap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bauermanbauerman Registered Users Posts: 452 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Great shots - would love to get up there sometime.

    I think that all your photos are actually of true Alaskan Brown Bears though - rather than Grizzly Bears. Grizzlies have the silver tipped hair on the nape of their neck.
    Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a family. - George Bernard Shaw
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    bauerman wrote:
    Great shots - would love to get up there sometime.

    I think that all your photos are actually of true Alaskan Brown Bears though - rather than Grizzly Bears. Grizzlies have the silver tipped hair on the nape of their neck.

    Hey thanks!

    As I understand it grizzly bear and brown bear is like buffalo and bison. Same thing just different names....I could be wrong though.
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • ElaineElaine Registered Users Posts: 3,532 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Wow! Amazing shots! Thanks for sharing!
    Elaine

    Comments and constructive critique always welcome!

    Elaine Heasley Photography
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    Excellent set. I really like # 6. I've never seen so many bears in one spot. clap.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    dlplumer wrote:
    Excellent set. I really like # 6. I've never seen so many bears in one spot. clap.gif


    Thank you!
    Yeah I couldn't even get them all in one shot. The most bears I had around me at one point in time was 22 within about 40 yards. It was crazy!! And they said the salmon weren't running at full strength yet...which means more were coming!
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • bauermanbauerman Registered Users Posts: 452 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2009
    The Wild Eye wrote:
    Hey thanks!

    As I understand it grizzly bear and brown bear is like buffalo and bison. Same thing just different names....I could be wrong though.

    Yeah - the Grizzly is actually a sub-species of the Brown Bear.....with slightly different physical characteristics......like the silver tipped hair on their neck (and elsewhere) as I mentioned in my post.

    Grizzly is the (Ursus arctos horribilis) and the Brown is the (Ursus arctos). Don't you love that additional "horribilis" that is added to the Grizzly designation? I love that!

    I'm more familiar with Grizzlies as they live (at times) in my home county in Idaho where my parents still live. Gorgeous animals that are not afraid to let you know who's boss!

    Great shots once again! thumb.gif
    Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a family. - George Bernard Shaw
  • ThwackThwack Registered Users Posts: 487 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    Outstanding! Thanks for sharing the pics!
  • RKnechtRKnecht Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    Wow, it looks like you were pretty close! That second shot is awesome. I am sure it was quite a thrill to be so close to such a powerful animal.
    A few Nikon bodies and some fast Nikon glass

    www.richknechtphotography.com
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    bauerman wrote:
    Yeah - the Grizzly is actually a sub-species of the Brown Bear.....with slightly different physical characteristics......like the silver tipped hair on their neck (and elsewhere) as I mentioned in my post.

    Grizzly is the (Ursus arctos horribilis) and the Brown is the (Ursus arctos). Don't you love that additional "horribilis" that is added to the Grizzly designation? I love that!

    I'm more familiar with Grizzlies as they live (at times) in my home county in Idaho where my parents still live. Gorgeous animals that are not afraid to let you know who's boss!

    Great shots once again! thumb.gif
    Arguably...
    Actually Ursus Arctos refers generically to the brown bear of which there are nineteen identified (and hotly contested) sub-species around the world. Horribilis is the subspecies for all brown bears in continental North America including the mainland of Alaska. Within Alaska only the famous Kodiak bear is identified as a separate subspecies namely "middendorffi" (not nearly as cool as horribilis). On the mainland DNA testing does not show any genetic differences in "brown" and "grizzly" bears.

    However, since the bears were photographed in Alaska, it's only fitting that they be referenced in Alaskan terms. And up here the coastal variety are definately refered to as brown bear or brownies. There is some undefined distance from the coast (50 miles according to those who must have lines drawn) where they become grizzlies. Among Alaskans it's acceptable to use either term for interior bears.

    The physical differences in brown and grizzly bears are environmentally induced. In the interior food is harder to come by and winters are longer. Those conditions favor smaller size. An 800lb male is big for an interior bear whereas coastal boars easily top 1000lb and go as big as 1500lb. The characteristic hump on the "grizzly" bear is simply muscles built up for digging. The famous nasty attitude of the grizzly as opposed to the more tolerant coastal bronw bear also favors survival in an area where food is much harder to come by. The silver tipped fur is due to the fact that interior bears are exposed to a lot more sun than those on the cloudy coast. Same thing happens to moose. Many interior moose have blond backs.

    But I digress.... nice set of images of coastal brown bear thumb.gif
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • bauermanbauerman Registered Users Posts: 452 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    Great - someone from Alaska pipes up! :D

    Great information - thanks for posting that.....gives good context to the photos. I had read similar information in the past somewhere - that grizzlies were basically the "interior" version of the brown bears. And that the coastal bears were bigger as they eat salmon and fatty fish all day long.

    Fascinating animals to say the least.
    Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a family. - George Bernard Shaw
  • Roaddog 52Roaddog 52 Registered Users Posts: 309 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    Definitely some great images. I'll have to make the trip someday.
    I don't know where I'm goin, but I'm goin anyway.
  • Cygnus StudiosCygnus Studios Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    Incredible series.
    Steve

    Website
  • leaheleahe Registered Users Posts: 168 Major grins
    edited February 18, 2009
    These are all great shots! I absolutely love the last one with the cub dancing. I went to Katmai in early September of 2006. There weren't as many people, but... there weren't as many bears either. It was the tail end of one of the last salmon runs so the stream was pretty well fished out that high up. We only saw 2 different bears at the falls. Most of them were closer to the lodge. We actually had to wait an hour and a half for a sleeping bear to finally amble away as it was too close to the trail. Awesome experience though. I highly recommend it!
    Leah Earle
    http://www.LeahEarlePhotography.com
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 19, 2009
    articblooms wrote:
    Arguably...
    Actually Ursus Arctos refers generically to the brown bear of which there are nineteen identified (and hotly contested) sub-species around the world. Horribilis is the subspecies for all brown bears in continental North America including the mainland of Alaska. Within Alaska only the famous Kodiak bear is identified as a separate subspecies namely "middendorffi" (not nearly as cool as horribilis). On the mainland DNA testing does not show any genetic differences in "brown" and "grizzly" bears.

    However, since the bears were photographed in Alaska, it's only fitting that they be referenced in Alaskan terms. And up here the coastal variety are definately refered to as brown bear or brownies. There is some undefined distance from the coast (50 miles according to those who must have lines drawn) where they become grizzlies. Among Alaskans it's acceptable to use either term for interior bears.

    The physical differences in brown and grizzly bears are environmentally induced. In the interior food is harder to come by and winters are longer. Those conditions favor smaller size. An 800lb male is big for an interior bear whereas coastal boars easily top 1000lb and go as big as 1500lb. The characteristic hump on the "grizzly" bear is simply muscles built up for digging. The famous nasty attitude of the grizzly as opposed to the more tolerant coastal bronw bear also favors survival in an area where food is much harder to come by. The silver tipped fur is due to the fact that interior bears are exposed to a lot more sun than those on the cloudy coast. Same thing happens to moose. Many interior moose have blond backs.

    But I digress.... nice set of images of coastal brown bear thumb.gif

    Wow thanks for your insight!! I new I had heard that the name was interchangeable but I couldn't find it on line anywhere.

    next time i make this post i'll go with "Coastal Brown Bear" instead of the grizzly bear....it just sounds better too!! so thanks!

    it looks better already here.....
    http://samswartz.smugmug.com/Wildlife/620826
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 19, 2009
    leahe wrote:
    These are all great shots! I absolutely love the last one with the cub dancing. I went to Katmai in early September of 2006. There weren't as many people, but... there weren't as many bears either. It was the tail end of one of the last salmon runs so the stream was pretty well fished out that high up. We only saw 2 different bears at the falls. Most of them were closer to the lodge. We actually had to wait an hour and a half for a sleeping bear to finally amble away as it was too close to the trail. Awesome experience though. I highly recommend it!

    This was in Mid-July when they say it should be the best...But i think i was a week or two too early. Even getting to see one of these bears is a true delight!

    thanks!
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 19, 2009
    bauerman wrote:
    Great - someone from Alaska pipes up! :D

    Great information - thanks for posting that.....gives good context to the photos. I had read similar information in the past somewhere - that grizzlies were basically the "interior" version of the brown bears. And that the coastal bears were bigger as they eat salmon and fatty fish all day long.

    Fascinating animals to say the least.

    Fascinating indeed!! Thanks for the post!
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited February 19, 2009
    I checked out you website and you really got some good shots of these guys. You've got a great one of a couple of them fighting. The closeup of the bear's eye is donwright spooky eek7.gif Awesome creatures. Thanks for posting and for the link to your site.
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • The Wild EyeThe Wild Eye Registered Users Posts: 92 Big grins
    edited February 19, 2009
    articblooms wrote:
    I checked out you website and you really got some good shots of these guys. You've got a great one of a couple of them fighting. The closeup of the bear's eye is donwright spooky eek7.gif Awesome creatures. Thanks for posting and for the link to your site.

    Hey thanks! The eye shot was incredibly thrilling!! I checked your site out as well!! I am completely jealous of your eagle shots!! GREAT STUFF!!!
    The Wild Eye

    Canon 1D Mark II, 16-35mm, 28-135mm, 50mm, 100-400mm, 1.4X, 600mm FD & 1.4X FD.

    "Wildlife photography drives my passion. But there is something about being in the midst of a scenic view that takes your breath away."

    www.SamSwartz.Net
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