MooseNewsBlog

Not even home for 24hrs and I’m back out photographing bears. Not grizzlies (I wish, miss them so) but rather our neighborhood Am Black Bears (brown phase). This particular mom & cub are not new, Jake posted a couple great shots of them not too long ago in the tree in our front meadow.

This go around, mom left the kid way behind her and when the kid saw me (and the 200-400VR)  and being between them, it started balling (because everyone knows I am scary) and went up a fir a short distance. Darn! After awhile, mom cameback, grabbed the kid and went on their way. After a little time they found a dead Stellar Jay and cleaned it up. I left them as they headed back into the forest where they belong.

While I have a moment, there are some blogs I wanted to point out to you. First, we couldn’t be more proud nor impressed by what our son Jake has posted. He’s got some great work up and his images from our AK adventure are just killer! I have no doubt that in a short time his talent will go flying past dad. That’s cool!

There are also a couple from our Base Camp campers that I want to point you to. The first is that of Chris Van Winkle. At his portfolio review, he had some graphic images that just knocked my socks off. As you can see on his blog, he does a real nice job! The second is from the “kid” from our Bozeman Base Camp, Andrew Kniowski. He was the first “kid” sponsored by Nikon to join us and he set the bar pretty darn high for all the kids who followed. I really like Andrew and his photography.

Lastly is that of someone I consider a dear friend, big hearted and well, just love the guy and that’s Brad Moore. Many know him as Joe McNally’s assistant but I think of him as much more. It’s been a real joy and pleasure to see his photography grow. I know you’ll enjoy all these blogs, so check them out, alot!

I want to thank everyone for the very kind and in some cases, overwhelming emails in regards to my grizzly bear blogs. I spend time with them strictly because of a love for them and always appreciate hearing that comes out in my images. Many asked if I would be taking other shooters to photograph them. I’m out of that business but I highly recommend you head out with my dear friend David Cardinal. We meet when he first joined me a decade ago to photograph grizzly bears and now we have a software together and he leads trips. Check them out.

Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

There is a saying amongst bear biologists and passionate bear watchers that goes something like, “if people can learn to live with bears, then people can live amongst people.” There are many histroic instances where this has not been the case, just look at my home state of CA. The last griz was shot in 1924, but you can still see it on our state flag. Look at the Polar Bear, a current bear situation that’s not going so well. Griz can roam over hundreds of miles or as little as 5 and in its brutal world, they still manage to live amongst themselves and when we’re not in the picture, do really well.

The top photo is of a 4-5yr old female out on the mud flats at low tide digging for soft-shell clams. The bottom photo is of an easy going 1100lbs male that just loved the water. We were incredibly fortunate to spend three weeks amongst these gentle giants, live amongst them on their terms so as to not effect their world. The worst thing to happen was a good cry when we had to say good-bye because you see, bears are just good for the soul.

I hope we all can just live together.

Photos captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

And just how many fish were there in Dog Salmon Creek? All the splashing you see in this photo is being created by all the Red & Pink Salmon and not the bear.

There was literally so many fish, this 1100lbs Kodiak male very deliberately picked which fish he was going to eat. As in, he would grab one and if it didn’t meet his standards (whatever they were) he would drop it and grab another. Now this might seem wasteful until you saw the dozen Bald Eagles and Red Fox cleaning up the dead left behind by this male (as well as a Gerber or two). All the ripples in the water in front of the griz are all salmon!

I’ve received a number of emails from folks asking how we can camp amongst griz and shoot beside them and not get eaten. All I can saw is, don’t believe everything you see on TV or  in the movies. If you understand basic biology and understand some of the basics of grizzly bear society, there’s no fear involved (and you can always read this that’s been on our website for 9yrs), just simple enjoyment. Keep in mind, my wife Sharon was right there with me and is already planning our camping trip with the bears for 2009!

Photos captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

It looks like this Goober (unofficial biological term for 3-4yr old grizzlies) is about to answer the proverbial question about a bear and the woods, but that’s not the case. We’re in from the second leg of our trip reoutfitting before going back out again. On this adventure, the bears weren’t as plentiful because there were simply no fish, salmon are very scarce in AK this year. On the day this photo was taken, the first school of Reds made it to the hole and the bears were just coming in for the feast.

With the new arrival of Reds, the older bears take presedence at the hole so the Goobers (usually bears just kicked out by mom) who have not established themselves yet amongst the other bears. don’t know where to go, literally So, they are basically afraid of their own shadow and do the silliest things while staying out of their own way. it’s just the way of the bear.

Photo captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

We had more then just griz to occupy our glass time. The number two attraction was this Red Fox den with 6-7 pups (never really knew, they didn’t hold still). Foxes are so much fun to watch. Just moments after this photo was taken, the pup on the right backed up and pounced right on mom to get her attention. The pup got attention alright, just not the kind it wanted.

Photo by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

The mere act of strolling in from his favorite “perch’ for fishing, this thousand pound male simply walks across water that would sweep us right away with it. It was moments before standing in the water that’s now behind him and was there for hours.

Photo captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

So full, this Griz is being lulled asleep by the rushing water its watching to seize its next meal. It did finally “fall” over but the shutter speed was so slow so it’s just a blur. Watching and photographing the bears for 9hrs straight is just a delight to us.

Photo captured by D3, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Photo captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film