Camera Labs

Thanks fallen... wish more ppl could go there but it is so remote and there is a total lack of operators out there. Tom, the guy I went with, is booked solid for the next 2 years as are the other 2 reputable operators from what I understand... they may have a spot here and there open but they are few and far between. A few others do run tours there but I can't speek on them.

They are even talking a bit about a lottery to get in and view these bears to minimalize the impact on the region which will make it even harder for the average person to go there. I'm lucky enough to had an "in" now so getting back shouldn't be hard but more ppl need to be aware of this area and what is happening there.

What's left of it is the largest remaining temperate rain forest in the world but it is shrinking fast due to logging, fisheries, and oil. I don't speek out openly about things like this often but this area needs to be permanently protected. There are some nightmare stories about what is going on there as well as what ppl are doing to fight against the machine but its not wise to discuss them openly.

It probalby won't catch on as a tourist site though due to remoteness and weather. It gets an average of 3 meters of rain a year... most in the fall and that is when you want to be there cause of the salmon runs.

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Amazing trip Wolf, a great set, not to sure if I would lie down in the creek, I was under the inpression bears are not to friendly and are always looking for a meal.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

LOL thanks 4x... I was thinking the same thing when he was eye-balling me... Most of the people tended to stay in a tight group but I tend to be on the edges whenever I can on these trips... there were several times when a bear was within a few meters and I thought to myself even though there were others close to me... within 2 meters as well.... if the bear wanted it would get to me before anyone could react... might not kill me but sure would do a lot of damage before the guides or anyone reacted. Only thing the guides and our captain had was pepper spray and apperantly if a large bear is ticked the pepper spray doesn't do much good for long. These bears were fussy though.. they would bypass male salmon and only go for the females... then they would eat the eggs and brains and for the most part leave the rest of the fish for scavengers so they were well fed and close to hybernation... in about 3 to 4 weeks. I know I have a good series of a grizzly selectively eating the brains only of a salmon and then walking away... will need to find it after they have been picked through.

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

On to the Spirit Bear... the first pic is of a painting in the native long house in Hartley Bay depicting the Spirit Bear. Even though we were the first group allowed to photograph the bear only, out of respect, I'm choosing to show the painting in its entirety.



and in person.... this really was an amazing 2 days spent with these rare bears.















































I have talked before about when going on trips like this with multiple photographers, if you want to get unique pictures, one needs to look for angles and create intimate moments. On day one we noticed that when we did spook a bear it went just behind a bush in cover to eat. looking for an angle I found a little hole in the greenery to shoot through if you got low and got a bit away from the rest of the people. I made sure it was OK with the guides... the following 2 pics are the result... well 2 of many results. During this whole sequence I never heard one other shutter going off and a few people asked me what I was shooting and how I could shoot through the opening. For me these pics raelly create an intimate moment with the bear....









These final 2 shots really showcase the bear in its natural environ for me...





And there you have it... Great Bear Rain Forest 2010

I'm waiting on a group photo and will post that when I get it.

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Excellent bear photos.

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"If I want a 'snapshot'... i will use my phone.."

My Photos:
http://mistycreek.deviantart.com/

Thanks fallen... I did miss some specific shots I was looking to get though... guess I got to go back next year...

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Amazing pictures, my favorite is the 2nd to last. I've been an outdoors-man my whole life and I've seen lots of beautiful places, I've always wanted to capture them with pictures. I've got my first DLSR now and I'm learning, pictures like these are the reason I want to learn, I hope to someday get pictures as good as these. Thanks for sharing!

What lens where you using for most of the shots?

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Rebel T2I, Tamron 17-50 2.8, EF 70-300 f4-5.6, 50mm f 1.8

flickr

thanks Kev... 100-400 and 400 prime for the vast magority.

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Wolf, did you shoot this set in Jpeg.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

RAW + Jpeg..... I post jpeg images only here or other public sites.

2 processes for me... RAW files used for personal as well as marketable images.... everything else I do quick Jpeg batch adjustments then crop individually of those I like.

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing.

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Nikon D7000, Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55MM f/3.5-5.6G VR, Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4 IF-ED, NIKKOR TC-14E II

flickr

Been a long time since this trip but I've had multiple requests to post some pics of the landscape from this region and I'm bored so went through my batch pics... let me say at the outset I'm not a landscape photographer but here goes... to those waiting.. sorry it took so long.

Anyone interested in landscape photography could have spent the entire trip focusing on that and never been bored.

I'd mentioned before that while shooting the grizzlies light each day was minimal due to cliffs on either side... these 3 shots will give an idea..



and a few hundred meters behind us was this on our bank...



this gives an idea of the hieght of the cliffs on either side. This pic shows about 1/2 the cliff's hieght.





next 3 pics are of some wild crabapple trees.. the grizzlies love these...







random stuff...

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

wow, first time I have seen this. Love it and nice work Wolfsong.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 6D,7D, 24-70 2.8 Tamron VC, Canon 15-85, Canon 85 1.8, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L Macro, Canon 70-300L +Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

First time visit to this thread. Fantastic photos! Absolutely beautiful. Would love to do this someday. Wonderful job.

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Jason

Just a new guy learning his way

Film: Olympus XA2
Digital: Nikon D3100 w/SB-600: , Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G, Tokina 12-24MM F4 Pro II

My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkmcdonald/

My Blog: http://jmcdonaldphotography.tumblr.com/

I've been on 3 fishing trips to Alaska, the landscape pictures remind me of the awesome scenery there. Thanks for sharing.

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Rebel T2I, Tamron 17-50 2.8, EF 70-300 f4-5.6, 50mm f 1.8

flickr