100% in the wild, 200mm stairing straight at me down the hill. It's strange, the angle of shot does not look like he was fairly elevated above me, but he was. The deceptive angle worked, because he WAS stairing down the hill after he heard my shutter clicking 90 mph. It's the only time I ever filled a D2X buffer.

This may be the best bear I ever shoot. Oh, I had one more golden opportunity before, but I failed that first attempt. Not this time. He was mine. He'd been busting that log up looking for insects and stuff to eat likely. It's what they do in the spring when there is not much to eat.

Nice looking bear and a great background. I bet you wish you had just a little more focal length. Thanks for the great image. Albert

Cool
would love to of been there myself

Closest I've been to a Bear in the wild is............Opps sorry can't tell that story
Let's just say I told Jeff to watch where he was walkin

I had a little more focal length available, (200-400VR at time) and went back to get it and went back, but this was the best image. Now I shoot 300 2.8 VR and 200 2.0VR with 1.4 or 1.7TC.

But believe me, at 12.2 megapixels the image is quite nice and very sharp to crop some, so there's no issue to providing a nice mountable print.

This is just an initial load, I have not really adjusted photo much or anything as yet.

I was pretty close here, about 30-40 yards I think. I was also close to one that climbed a tree over the road in Cades Cove one day. Scared the crap out of me, and I panicked, as a result my photography suffered by my addrenilin flow, lol.

Doug

Beautiful shot! For closer shot, smother yourself in fish oil and don't forget to post a shot for us to see.... Well, if you make the shot that is!!

Originally Posted by ShepsMom Beautiful shot! For closer shot, smother yourself in fish oil and don't forget to post a shot for us to see.... Well, if you make the shot that is!!

Now that is funny!

Awesome capture of an awesome animal. I don't think I would want to be any closer to a bear than what you have but I hear that black bears are much docile than grizzlies or brown bears.

Originally Posted by Maestro Now that is funny! Awesome capture of an awesome animal. I don't think I would want to be any closer to a bear than what you have but I hear that black bears are much docile than grizzlies or brown bears.

Thank you much.

The black bear has a fairly tolerent disposition, and an inate natural fear of man. At least a desire to avoid man, if not a fear. But there are sensible rules that need to be followed as with all wild animals. Tops on the list, never come between a Mother and her cubs. If you have an encounter, don't encroach the bear, don't stare directly at the bear, as that can be considered a sign of aggression. If a bear does what is called a dry charge at you, where he comes up like he is going to charge at you and then stops short, you need to back slowly up, as you've gotten to close to the bear, and he wants space. Give it to him.

There are more rules, but generally, keep a safe distance, allow them to just do what they want to do, ang give them space.

Yes, I have researched them, as I want to know exactly how to act if I have a close encounter. With an average of 2 bears a square mile inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it's very likely you will see a bear at some point. This amounts to 1600-1800 bears in the park.

An encounter with a grizzly, well, that's not something to try to have I hear. Steve K that posts around, has lost several friends to griz's in Alaska.

doug

and that is a very clean shot still watching my step