Posts Tagged ‘Katmai National Park’
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
A large male adult brown bear, or grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), stands and stares at the camera. Male brown bears may reach weights of over 1200lbs and easily stand 9' tall. Brown bear, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
One of my main goals last year, photographically, was to shoot more ‘bears in the landscape’ style shots; images such as this one were what I was really after. Of course, that doesn’t mean I would pass up an opportunity to fill the frame with a bear like this, either.
This kind of image is all about the bear; power, size and vitality. The bears in the landscape speak a little more about place. Fascinating subject, place.
I just got back from a trip to Denali National Park and Preserve, where I spent some time in a cabin in the woods, by a fire, trying to stay warm. The day we skied in to the park, the temperatures plummeted, from the 0 to – 5 degreeF range to minus 40 and minus 45. The experience of the Alaska backcountry at that kind of temperature is something else.
It was a cool experience, hanging out with my friend, Erik DeLuca, music composer from Virginia, while he concentrated on doing some soundscape recordings and trying his best to experience a ‘sense of place’ in a landscape like this. We chatted a lot about what that means, what it does for us, and why it might be important. I commandeered Erik’s book, “Place: A Short Introduction“, (author: Tim Cresswell) and read over it during the long dark nights. It’s interesting stuff. (more…)
Tags: Brown bears, grizzlies, Katmai National Park, photo tours
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Musings, Photo Tours, Wildlife | 2 Comments »
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Tags: Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Landscapes, scenics, Skolai Images, sunsets
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Landscapes, Photo Tours, Wildlife | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos. A large adult male grizzly bear stands in dawn's early light, shrouded in fog on a cool fall morning. Brown bear, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
We were treated to some gorgeous soft light in the cool fall mornings on our recent grizzly bears photo tour. Fortunately for our group, no one had any troubles with lenses fogging up, which can wreak havoc on shooting early, cold mornings. The ethereal, moody experience of standing in the mist in near silence, watching the bears go about their morning, was really a special experience we all were grateful for. The photos were just the icing on the cake. And this bear? Ted, the coolest bear in the whole wide world. Ever. 
I’ve shot this bear a number of years now, and it’s always exciting to see him on the river again. He’s a beautiful animal, and I’m lucky to have had so many great opportunities to see and photograph him.
Thanks Ted.
Cheers
Carl
Tags: Alaska, Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Skolai Images
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours, Wildlife | 3 Comments »
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Tags: Alaska, Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Landscapes, scenics, Skolai Images, sunsets
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Landscapes, Photo Tours, Photos Only, Wildlife | 2 Comments »
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011
Brown bear, Ursus arctos, and a wildlife photographer, walking along a road in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
Just a fun photo to show you that this grizzly bear photography isn’t as easy as it looks. Here’s an experienced Alaskan wildlife photographer setting off trying to find a bear to photograph.
You might THINK it’s easy to find a 800lb brown bear, but such isn’t the case. Take a guide who knows what he’s doing with you so this photo isn’t you on your next photo trip.
Cheers
Carl
Tags: Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Skolai Images
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Backpacking and Hiking, Photo Tours, Photography, Wildlife, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park | 2 Comments »
Saturday, October 15th, 2011
Tags: Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Skolai Images
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours, Photos Only, Wildlife | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
Brown bear eating a Sockeye Salmon. Brown bears love to eat the fat rich skin first, consuming much needed calories for their own winter hibernation. The brown bear here has it's tongue poking out. Brown bear, Ursus arctos, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
Just back from 2 weeks shooting brown bears here in Alaska, and I hardly have time to unpack before I’m heading out on my next trip, but I wanted to post at lease something from the bear photo tour before leaving.
This year I wanted to concentrate on some different kinds of images than I normally shoot, so I shot a lot less, and threw out even more than usual; but I did come away with some photos, I think, that I’ll be happy with. I still haven’t looked over all of them yet, but I know I made at least a couple I will like. Once I get down to editing I’ll try to post a few. (more…)
Tags: Alaska, Brooks River, Brown bears, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, salmon, Skolai Images
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours | 3 Comments »
Friday, September 30th, 2011
3 young grizzly bear cubs wait by a river, fall colors in the forest. Grizzly bears, or brown bears, (Ursus arctos). Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
By now, all going according to plan, I should be almost getting back from the Katmai National Park Grizzly Bear Photo Tour; here’s an image from last year’s tour, just in case we don’t have much luck this fall. 3 gorgeous young cubs slipping down to water’s edge for a look around, before slinking back to the forest.
Next photo should be from 2011. See ya soon.
Cheers
Carl
Tags: Brown bears, grizzlies, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, photo tours, Skolai Images, Wildlife
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Fall, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours, Wildlife | 4 Comments »
Friday, September 16th, 2011
Tags: bears, Brown bears, Katmai National Park, Skolai Images, Wildlife
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours, Photos Only, Wildlife | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Large male (boar) brown bear walking up a salmon stream in early morning light, fall. (Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos). Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Scroll down to see larger version of this photo.
Hey Folks,
Just to post something for while I’m out of town – a brown bear photo from the grizzlies in the Fall photo tour. Edit: Well, I had initially posted this ahead of schedule, planning on being out of town this week. However, 7″ of snow and more on the way put paid to my motivation to drive through the Chugach Mountains to Wrangell – St. Elias National Park, so I’m still in town. Maybe next week I’ll get gone.
On to things that matter.
The inspiration behind this post is this rather unfortunate piece. An excerpt:
Conservative preacher Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association writes “One human being is worth more than an infinite number of grizzly bears. Another way to put it is that there is no number of live grizzlies worth one dead human being.”
I wonder if he feels the same way about, say, cigarettes, or motor vehicles. Even something as commonplace as fast food diets are responsible for far more human ill health than any grizzly bear (or grizzly bear population) ever has been. When he cries for their riddance, he’ll have some integrity.
He goes on (and on); “If it’s a choice between grizzlies and humans, the grizzlies have to go. And it’s time.”
More ignorance. It’s already BEEN time, Mr Fischer. Grizzly bears were virtually wiped out, via human hands, from the vast majority of their former range years ago. Lots of years ago. (more…)
Tags: Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Skolai Images
Posted in Adventures, Alaska, Grizzly Bears, Katmai National Park, Photo Tours, Wildlife | 9 Comments »
