Surprised by a bear
Sep 15, 2011 10:22:20 #
My niece and I were in Yellowstone this spring walking back from Fishing bridge where I was taking pictures. We were walking back to the car, I was looking at the pictures I had just taken, and my niece stopped in her tracks and said, "#*@#". I looked up into the distance and couldn't see anything. She managed to get the word "Bear" out of her mouth when I noticed him about 10 foot away coming out of the trees. We started to back away when we both came to the same conclusion that if we were going to die do it taking pictures. So with shaking hands and in full auto. This is what I got.
Notice as he is crossing the bridge the people in the background have no clue what is coming at them. I don't know how they didn't hear the couple screaming at the other end of the bridge trying to draw attention to themselves so the bear would notice them :)
The final shot was one we took from the car as we were leaving and the park ranger was driving up to break up the crowd of people that didn't have enough sense to get back in their cars.
As I said these were all shot fully auto and all I have done to them is crop and burn a little at the top of the bear crossing the bridge. All comments appreciated both positive and constructive.
Notice as he is crossing the bridge the people in the background have no clue what is coming at them. I don't know how they didn't hear the couple screaming at the other end of the bridge trying to draw attention to themselves so the bear would notice them :)
The final shot was one we took from the car as we were leaving and the park ranger was driving up to break up the crowd of people that didn't have enough sense to get back in their cars.
As I said these were all shot fully auto and all I have done to them is crop and burn a little at the top of the bear crossing the bridge. All comments appreciated both positive and constructive.
Sep 15, 2011 10:28:41 #
Sa-WEET!
Glad no-one was hurt... but what a NEAT memory to have and to have pics to prove it! :)
Glad no-one was hurt... but what a NEAT memory to have and to have pics to prove it! :)
Sep 15, 2011 11:10:55 #
Wow, what a great story! (since there were no injuries.) The pictures are pretty darn good too considering you were must've been absolutely quaking. I'm too new at this to truly critique these so I won't. Just wanted to say :thumbup:.
Sep 15, 2011 11:58:08 #
Thank you. Even a beginner has an opinion, don't be afraid to voice it. I have learned a lot of this forum just by the people who disagree with me and I never would have heard it if I hadn't spoken up in the first place.
And yes our hearts were pounding and knees knocking, but fortunate for us and everyone else he was just passing through. If you are going to have a bear encounter in Yellowstone better a black bear than a grizzly.
And yes our hearts were pounding and knees knocking, but fortunate for us and everyone else he was just passing through. If you are going to have a bear encounter in Yellowstone better a black bear than a grizzly.
Sep 15, 2011 13:02:22 #
Interesting opportunity. You were lucky that the bear surprised you, and not the other way around. Startled animals are extremely dangerous at close range.
The bear obviously was not interested in the humans as food (as they rarely are) and could sense that you were (probably) not a threat. Or maybe it was just dumb.
In any case, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The bear obviously was not interested in the humans as food (as they rarely are) and could sense that you were (probably) not a threat. Or maybe it was just dumb.
In any case, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Sep 15, 2011 13:02:59 #
Country's Mama wrote:
My niece and I were in Yellowstone this spring wal... (show quote)
Wow! I love the shots and glad you are safe. I would have just pee-ed my pants and forgot about the camera. Great capture!
Sep 15, 2011 13:10:28 #
I love the shots and glad you are safe. I would have just pee-ed my pants and forgot about the camera. Great capture![/quote]
Thank you. I was glad to have gotten them. We were hoping to see a bear at a distance. We really weren't looking for any up close and personal encounters, but we tried to take advantage of what was given us.
Thank you. I was glad to have gotten them. We were hoping to see a bear at a distance. We really weren't looking for any up close and personal encounters, but we tried to take advantage of what was given us.
Sep 15, 2011 14:01:59 #
I especially like the 3rd one....like he is sitting on top of "his" world just pondering. Love it!
My daughter and I had a bear walk right in front of us at Sequoia National Park. It was scary! Fortunately we had just been to a ranger meeting in which we were advised that we may see some bears near our cabins. We were told to hiss at them like a cat. I totally froze, my then 8 yr old daughter hissed away, and the bear sauntered off. She's so much braver than me!
My daughter and I had a bear walk right in front of us at Sequoia National Park. It was scary! Fortunately we had just been to a ranger meeting in which we were advised that we may see some bears near our cabins. We were told to hiss at them like a cat. I totally froze, my then 8 yr old daughter hissed away, and the bear sauntered off. She's so much braver than me!
Sep 15, 2011 14:09:43 #
I have never heard the hissing technique, but it worked so that is all that matters. We just very slowly backed up and kept hitting the shutter. Next time I meet a bear I will have to try it.
My daughter was living in Sequoia national park last year and ran into a bear while doing her laundry in Feb. what he was doing awake is anyones guess.
It sounds like you have a very brave daughter.
We need to see some of your pictures from that trip.
My daughter was living in Sequoia national park last year and ran into a bear while doing her laundry in Feb. what he was doing awake is anyones guess.
It sounds like you have a very brave daughter.
We need to see some of your pictures from that trip.
Sep 15, 2011 22:47:34 #
I probably have some old hard copies of that trip, but I did not have a camera with me that night. It was film anyway, back in those days. :)
Sep 15, 2011 23:00:35 #
Yeeeeeeha! Once in a lifetime photos! I love being in those situations.
Sep 15, 2011 23:09:16 #
Excellent photos, thankfully you and your niece weren't hurt. I spent a summer in Yellowstone. Worked at Old Faithful. One morning my roomate was conforted by a black bear. She slowly backed away from it and tried to get back in the cabin door. The bear disappeared and came around the other side and startled her again. At that moment there was a camper who saw what was happening. He grabbed two pan lids and started banging them together. This surprised the bear and he ran off.
Sep 16, 2011 07:12:01 #
Sharon98115 wrote:
Excellent photos, thankfully you and your niece weren't hurt. I spent a summer in Yellowstone. Worked at Old Faithful. One morning my roomate was conforted by a black bear. She slowly backed away from it and tried to get back in the cabin door. The bear disappeared and came around the other side and startled her again. At that moment there was a camper who saw what was happening. He grabbed two pan lids and started banging them together. This surprised the bear and he ran off.
Thank you,
Thank God for fast thinking campers with pan lids.
Sep 16, 2011 07:29:17 #
Country's Mama wrote:
quote=Sharon98115 Excellent photos, thankfully yo... (show quote)
Amen to that.
Sep 16, 2011 15:17:08 #
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