Black Bears on Vancouver Island

bradpowellphotobradpowellphoto Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
edited October 11, 2010 in Wildlife
Well its Fall again and that means the Black Bears come out of the bush after a summer of eating berries and grasses and converge on our local Vancouver Island rivers and streams to wait for the salmon to start spawning. It also means our local gang of photogs makes it's annual pilgrimage to the Thornton Creek Hatchery just outside of Ucluelet. Here are some early shots from this season. The salmon have just started to show up and the bears are waiting eagerly for them!

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“Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” Helmut Newton

My Vancouver Island Photography Website http://bradpowellphoto.com
My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/bradpowellphoto

Comments

  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 7, 2010
    Fantastic!! Makes me want to go there and wait for them too!
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2010
    Wonderful set of pictures! How close were you to these guys?
    It looks like the bear in the second picture is posing especially for you. I think that one has done some modelling work. ;)
    clap.gif
  • bradpowellphotobradpowellphoto Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    Wonderful set of pictures! How close were you to these guys?
    It looks like the bear in the second picture is posing especially for you. I think that one has done some modelling work. ;)
    clap.gif

    We were quite close a few times as we stand in a group on the mudflats at the mouth of the creek and let the bears move around us.

    rolleyes1.gif The bear in the second picture has been named "lazyboy" and aptly so.

    He rolled around and posed (between big sleepy yawns) for us for quite a while!
    “Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” Helmut Newton

    My Vancouver Island Photography Website http://bradpowellphoto.com
    My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/bradpowellphoto
  • ashruggedashrugged Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2010
    Nice series, I hope you post more.
    Robert

    http://rckimaging.smugmug.com/
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2010
    Love that second one. Speaks volumes! You are brave to get so close.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • bradpowellphotobradpowellphoto Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2010
    One more...this time of a sow and her cubs

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    “Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” Helmut Newton

    My Vancouver Island Photography Website http://bradpowellphoto.com
    My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/bradpowellphoto
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2010
    That last picture with the cubs clinches it. Next time I go to visit the relatives in Vancouver, it's going to be in autumn, and Vancouver Island will be part of the itinerary. :)

    Wonderul capture! I am so very envious!
  • jackiejayjackiejay Registered Users Posts: 714 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2010
    you dont realize how big they can get how far away were you youre brave. thay are wounderful pics
  • photodad1photodad1 Registered Users Posts: 566 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2010
    Very nice photos. Good job.
  • bradpowellphotobradpowellphoto Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    That last picture with the cubs clinches it. Next time I go to visit the relatives in Vancouver, it's going to be in autumn, and Vancouver Island will be part of the itinerary. :)

    Wonderul capture! I am so very envious!

    Well you're in luck! I am a great Vancouver Island photography tour guide and I work for White Spot Burgers and Beer!
    “Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” Helmut Newton

    My Vancouver Island Photography Website http://bradpowellphoto.com
    My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/bradpowellphoto
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2010
    bradpowellphoto wrote: »
    Well you're in luck! I am a great Vancouver Island photography tour guide and I work for White Spot Burgers and Beer!

    It may take a year or three, but that's a deal ;)
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2010
    bradpowellphoto wrote: »
    Well you're in luck! I am a great Vancouver Island photography tour guide and I work for White Spot Burgers and Beer!

    Works for me. I come out at least once a year to visit my son and his family in Vancouver so a hop across the ferry is definitely a possibility!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • bradpowellphotobradpowellphoto Registered Users Posts: 378 Major grins
    edited October 10, 2010
    Let me know when!
    “Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” Helmut Newton

    My Vancouver Island Photography Website http://bradpowellphoto.com
    My Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/bradpowellphoto
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2010
    Outstanding, especially the second image.
    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!"
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