Yellowstone Grizzly
With so many images to work through after our trip to Yellowstone National Park (June 20-26)
I have decided to post them by critter.
This post will be image intense with my "thoughts as it happened" narration ....
I hope that the size of this post will not upset too many .... Hey it's my first "in the wild" Grizzly.
Early one morning Sue and I decided to head up over Dunraven Pass and see if there was a chance
of getting a decent photo of the wolves. Suddenly we saw a couple of "long lenses" working the side of the pass ....
We found the first place to turn around and navigated to a "legal" place to park, both wheels outside the white line,
without driving over the side ...... Sue says; there is a huge brownish bear down there!
I feel like a kid at Christmas .... Camera and lens (there on your lap stupid) ... tripod, do I need the tc? ......
Go Go Go Go! Try not to embarrass yourself.
I set up next to a couple of regulars ... making sure to ask if I am in their way, etc.
The grizzly is walking the Lincoln Logs mostly in the shadows ... tough light, but I am firing away .....
I listen to the other two camera shutters .... Only an occasional single shutter click from each.
Okay dummy, slow down ..... try to avoid having bear fever and the yips.
1) Walking the "Lincoln" logs
2) Okay this one may not be too bad ... some shadows to deal with though
3) Yeah .... Now that's a good shot, just wish the tree branch wasn't there
4) Oh wow ... If that comes out it will be a "keeper"
Has anyone else noticed that this bear has moved so close that it is more than full frame on my 500mm lens?
That's what I asked the regulars ... One gentleman tells me ... "If I say run, I mean run now! Don't take your camera, just run.
But this guy isn't even paying any attention to us, so we are fine."
5) Easing away
Notice the scars on the head ..... This big guy is nicknamed "Old Scarface" apparently he got the
battle marks from a tussle with a sow grizzly, who was protecting her cub. He was collared and tagged as well.
6) Moved down into a meadow to graze. Where did all this sun come from?!?
7) Did he just make eye contact .... Gulp
8) Look at the claws on this guy!
9) More scars .... eating the flowers
10) You can see the ear tag and another scar next to the right eye
He was just starting to move into the shadows of the hill when a YNP "Bear Ranger" arrived and told us
that we needed to move back to behind the white line, on the opposite side of the road.
This created one small problem .... We could not see the bear from that vantage point!
What a great morning! It only lasted a total of 33 minutes but I somehow managed to take almost 700 images!
I have decided to post them by critter.
This post will be image intense with my "thoughts as it happened" narration ....
I hope that the size of this post will not upset too many .... Hey it's my first "in the wild" Grizzly.
Early one morning Sue and I decided to head up over Dunraven Pass and see if there was a chance
of getting a decent photo of the wolves. Suddenly we saw a couple of "long lenses" working the side of the pass ....
We found the first place to turn around and navigated to a "legal" place to park, both wheels outside the white line,
without driving over the side ...... Sue says; there is a huge brownish bear down there!
I feel like a kid at Christmas .... Camera and lens (there on your lap stupid) ... tripod, do I need the tc? ......
Go Go Go Go! Try not to embarrass yourself.
I set up next to a couple of regulars ... making sure to ask if I am in their way, etc.
The grizzly is walking the Lincoln Logs mostly in the shadows ... tough light, but I am firing away .....
I listen to the other two camera shutters .... Only an occasional single shutter click from each.
Okay dummy, slow down ..... try to avoid having bear fever and the yips.
1) Walking the "Lincoln" logs
2) Okay this one may not be too bad ... some shadows to deal with though
3) Yeah .... Now that's a good shot, just wish the tree branch wasn't there
4) Oh wow ... If that comes out it will be a "keeper"
Has anyone else noticed that this bear has moved so close that it is more than full frame on my 500mm lens?
That's what I asked the regulars ... One gentleman tells me ... "If I say run, I mean run now! Don't take your camera, just run.
But this guy isn't even paying any attention to us, so we are fine."
5) Easing away
Notice the scars on the head ..... This big guy is nicknamed "Old Scarface" apparently he got the
battle marks from a tussle with a sow grizzly, who was protecting her cub. He was collared and tagged as well.
6) Moved down into a meadow to graze. Where did all this sun come from?!?
7) Did he just make eye contact .... Gulp
8) Look at the claws on this guy!
9) More scars .... eating the flowers
10) You can see the ear tag and another scar next to the right eye
He was just starting to move into the shadows of the hill when a YNP "Bear Ranger" arrived and told us
that we needed to move back to behind the white line, on the opposite side of the road.
This created one small problem .... We could not see the bear from that vantage point!
What a great morning! It only lasted a total of 33 minutes but I somehow managed to take almost 700 images!
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Comments
Yellowstone is truly an amazing place.
I thought the Ranger was supposed to keep the bear away from you and your picnic basket! Maybe this wasn't Yogi.:D
700 frames in 33 minutes....normal, I'd say.
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Like the commentary Bob, very nice story. That is one 'war weary' grizzly isn't it? Wow!!
Bud
I would say the bear was within 20 yards at one point. I know the YNP rules and regs stress not closer than 100 yards for a bear, wolf or coyote. I wasn't moving ... the bear was!
Bud,
Apparently this big boar grizzly has gotten his butt kicked two consecutive springs!
Thanks for the comments .... One trip to YNP will not be enough for us. We already have rooms reserved for next May!
Bob
Maryville, TN.
http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/
www.capture-the-pixel.com
My website | NANPA Member
I agree. The 4th shot is my favorite!!
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