A couple of Grizzly Bears feeding on the tundra, Denali National Park, Alaska.
The tundra is sure beautiful in autumn! The fall colors were past in most of Denali – this was by far the most colorful area left in the Park, and it had a couple of Grizzlies! Actually, one of them is the same Grizzly Bear in yesterday’s post. This was about 10 minutes later, and a few hundred meters further away – they couldn’t have wandered into a better spot.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Just magnificent Ron! The image is dramatic and beautiful. The colors are amazing, as is the scene. I would love to hear more about the technical process and your thoughts while making it though.
Hey Ron,
You should just drove your truck right down and got some nice headshots.
I love this photo – really nice. Was there any conflict between the 2 bears, or were they together?
What’s the name of the pass these bears are in?
Cheers
Carl
Thanks Carl.
I get Highway and Thorofare Pass mixed up. I just looked it up to be sure and this is Thorofare Pass – well, it is actually a bit west of Eielson, so really not a pass at all, but you know what I’m saying.
Thanks a lot Paul.
I should have added more in my write-up. I had been shooting the bears with my 600 and a 2x converter, but decided the landscape was so beautiful that I would use a lens that included it all. This was captured with my 24-105 @ 58 mm and F/18 and 1/20 of a second. F/18 was probably overkill – f/11 would have been plenty of depth of field for this scene.
I should add, I used a 5 stop graduated neutral density filter. When there is snow in the mountains, and the light is the same on the foreground, and the mountains, whether that means full sun, or full cloud cover, a 3 stop filter works well. But, when the snow is in the sun, and the foreground is in clouds like in this scene, I usually use the 5 stop hard edge grad.
Thanks,
Ron
This is magnificent… absolutely breath-taking! This works on so many levels, I’d love to see this big!
As an afterthought – this should be on display (large… again) with the park headquarters or at Eielson Visitors Center.
Here I go again… Ron, you going to pick up the new 5D mk2? I’m going to try to sell my Hasselblad X-pan and lenses and pick the new 5D up.
Hey Dave,
Thanks a lot man! I really appreciate it.
You know that 5D II sounds like a great camera – I just might pick one up. I would love the light weight. I have been shooting with a 1Ds III since December. As someone else said, I feel like I may have just thrown an extra $4,000 away. For that price, you really can’t go wrong. I think the video thing could be fun.
Thanks,
Ron
Hey Carl,
I forgot to answer your other question. These were two sub-adults, and they seemed to get along fine. I assume they were siblings, but I don’t know for sure.
Thanks,
Ron
Awesome shot! Mindboggling beauty! And those grizzlies are just the icing on the cake! Kudos!
Cheers, Klaus
Thank you very much Klaus!
Ron
Absolutely stunning Ron.
Great image, Ron. This is awesome.
Hey Ron,
Thanks for the info on the bears, and the name. Thorofare Pass it is!
Also, thanks for the info on how you shot it .. I need a 5-stop filter. 3’s the highest I carry.
Cheers
Carl
Gorgeous shot!
Absolutely fabulous image Ron. I have always loved fall color scenes on tundra.
Thanks Guys!
Ron
Stunning!
This pic is stunning! What gorgeous colors!Are you in Glacier?
Thanks Beth!
I’m back is Seward, but this was in Denali.
Thanks Genevieve!