Wild Goose Island at Dawn Sunrise at Lake St. Mary, Glacier National Park, Montana. #Montana #landscapephotography #montanamoment www.JeffSullivanPhotography.com
Shawn McClure I'm really lucky that it was not my last image. The small viewpoint was full with a photography workshop, so I asked if I could take this quick shot in front of them, then head down the hill to a different spot. I ran to get out of their view quickly, startling a huge male grizzly bear away from the service berry bush he had been feeding on. Two things you never do to a grizzly are startle them or give them the impression that you're challenging them for food! I saw his massive dark form and heard him crashing off through the brush about 50-70 yards. I froze and heard nothing, until his head popped up from where he was now standing behind the bush. He was pissed, frothing at the mouth, gnashing his teeth, and raking his plate-sized, knife-lined paws into the bush. Then he started making a huffing noise (which I later read was the last thing many bear attack survivors heard before being mauled. Fortunately the bear was directly behind the bush and didn't have a straight shot at me. I started backing slowly up the hill, calculating what clothing and gear I could drop to give the bear something to attach before reaching me if he came around the bush.
I don't remember how I retraced the 100 yards or so back to the top, but I took some more photos from up there, figuring that I had much better odds near the crowd.
Next time I'll definitely carry bear spray. I didn't think that I'd need it only steps from a major viewpoint! Live and learn.
Jeff Sullivan Heheh, wow. Having gotten out of it alive, it's an amazing experience, although if thing had gone differently it might have been a terminal experience. Nicely done on the diplomatic retreat... Those big bears can hide just meters away and the tourists (and photographers) never even know. :) Cheers.
Shawn McClure Yes, it was a rare privilege to meet a grizzly bear at close range, even if neither of us was particularly enjoying it at the time.
I had been told by a campground host that the bears weren't down at lake level yet since the berries weren't ripe enough. When I scouted the spot the day before I picked a few service berries on the way to the lake and said to myself, "They seem pretty ripe to me!"
I'll be much quicker to put the evidence together on future visits, and hopefully my bear stories will all involve shots taken from a distance.
Jeff Sullivan Well said. I've had two, separate, very close bear encounters before, and each time my camera was out of reach (and mind) until I could get someplace a bit safer. But by then the photo opp was gone, of course. So I can't wait until I get a decent chance to safely photograph a "nearby" bear. :)
Shawn McClure Isn't that the truth, you're thrilled to get away alive, but you still experience regret at not having the camera handy and getting a shot! If only I had a GoPro running or smartphone handy, that bear would have been a YouTube star. I'm sure not going to do anything to repeat the circumstances though.
Wonderful composition and timing capturing the sunrise! Beautiful! I appreciate you sharing with the #landscapephotography theme!! I am happy to share your beautiful image to the Landscape Photography page! If you get a chance please visit our page and see all the great photos there, including the about tab, as we have new curators!
Jeff Sullivan Always appreciate you taking the time, giving the location and also commenting on your shots. This one is great, man. The story makes it even better.
G+ Photowalk May 4-7: Yosemite National Park - A World Heritage Site, one of the world's most incredible landscapes - Lunar rainbows ("moonbows") - waterfalls at peak flow - dogwood trees blooming by the Merced River - Spring wildflowers - reflections in Spring pools & the Merced River - full moon night landscapes The second photowalk in my series this Spring, again coinciding with the full moon to maximize shooting opportunities, will be to Yosemite National Park. This is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, and with lunar rainbows and night, full waterfalls, and wildflowers and trees blooming, this is arguably the best weekend of the year to visit. Feel free to RSVP or ask questions here, or for more information in a post which won't get buried, I've set up a post under a new Yosemite page at this link, where I'll maintain all the latest logistical details: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/116372553458318494396/116372553458318494396/posts/ct...
Limited Time Offer For the next 2 weeks, the light of the setting sun will backlight Horsetail Falls just before sunset... if the waterfall is flowing and if clouds don't block the sun! I just cancelled reservations for 2 rooms at the Yosemite Lodge for Feb 24-26 Weekend. I'll still be going, but I decided to camp instead. Come on up and shoot Yosemite in the Winter! https://picasaweb.google.com/107459220492917008623/MyTravels20062009#5293901653794383122 #plusphotoextract
Valley of Fire I've added a lot of Valley of Fire photos to further illustrate some of the types of opportunities available during the G+/Panoramio Photowalk April 5-8 in the Las Vegas Area . For information or to RSVP, visit this post: https://plus.google.com/b/102266715914719821262/102266715914719821262/posts/GF9m67Suhox
Bella foto.
ReplyDelete❤~❤❤❤~❤ :) xxx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteFantastic image...
ReplyDeleteShawn McClure I'm really lucky that it was not my last image. The small viewpoint was full with a photography workshop, so I asked if I could take this quick shot in front of them, then head down the hill to a different spot. I ran to get out of their view quickly, startling a huge male grizzly bear away from the service berry bush he had been feeding on. Two things you never do to a grizzly are startle them or give them the impression that you're challenging them for food! I saw his massive dark form and heard him crashing off through the brush about 50-70 yards. I froze and heard nothing, until his head popped up from where he was now standing behind the bush. He was pissed, frothing at the mouth, gnashing his teeth, and raking his plate-sized, knife-lined paws into the bush. Then he started making a huffing noise (which I later read was the last thing many bear attack survivors heard before being mauled. Fortunately the bear was directly behind the bush and didn't have a straight shot at me. I started backing slowly up the hill, calculating what clothing and gear I could drop to give the bear something to attach before reaching me if he came around the bush.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember how I retraced the 100 yards or so back to the top, but I took some more photos from up there, figuring that I had much better odds near the crowd.
Next time I'll definitely carry bear spray. I didn't think that I'd need it only steps from a major viewpoint! Live and learn.
Jeff Sullivan Heheh, wow. Having gotten out of it alive, it's an amazing experience, although if thing had gone differently it might have been a terminal experience. Nicely done on the diplomatic retreat... Those big bears can hide just meters away and the tourists (and photographers) never even know. :) Cheers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mountains, picture
ReplyDeleteShawn McClure Yes, it was a rare privilege to meet a grizzly bear at close range, even if neither of us was particularly enjoying it at the time.
ReplyDeleteI had been told by a campground host that the bears weren't down at lake level yet since the berries weren't ripe enough. When I scouted the spot the day before I picked a few service berries on the way to the lake and said to myself, "They seem pretty ripe to me!"
I'll be much quicker to put the evidence together on future visits, and hopefully my bear stories will all involve shots taken from a distance.
Jeff Sullivan Well said. I've had two, separate, very close bear encounters before, and each time my camera was out of reach (and mind) until I could get someplace a bit safer. But by then the photo opp was gone, of course. So I can't wait until I get a decent chance to safely photograph a "nearby" bear. :)
ReplyDeleteShawn McClure Isn't that the truth, you're thrilled to get away alive, but you still experience regret at not having the camera handy and getting a shot! If only I had a GoPro running or smartphone handy, that bear would have been a YouTube star. I'm sure not going to do anything to repeat the circumstances though.
ReplyDeleteUauuuu...lindo ameii...Parabéns. ..J.....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteWonderful composition and timing capturing the sunrise! Beautiful! I appreciate you sharing with the #landscapephotography theme!! I am happy to share your beautiful image to the Landscape Photography page! If you get a chance please visit our page and see all the great photos there, including the about tab, as we have new curators!
ReplyDeleteSomething Extraordinary .
ReplyDeletewspaniałe piękne zjawisko cudny widok świetne foto dziękuję pozdrawiam serdecznie
ReplyDeleteJeff Sullivan Always appreciate you taking the time, giving the location and also commenting on your shots. This one is great, man. The story makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteVery nice little island with a fir tree and a beautiful sunset behind the mountains. :)
ReplyDeleteG
ReplyDeleteMmm
ReplyDeleteNice
ReplyDeleteGreat place, great shot!
ReplyDeleteAmazing beauty! Thank you for sharing, peace and love to you Jeff Sullivan, in the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteSee I liked Preston so you are going to hell . Sincerely Charles Kirby Grissom
ReplyDelete