The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Now that I’m back home from my first trip of the year, I’m catching up on sharing more of my 2025 favorites. This one was taken last June in Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park. This is a different location from the popular fly-in spot most Lake Clark photographers visit. We were fortunate to be stationed at an isolated lodge, well away from other tourists, so we had the bears and the spectacular scenery all to ourselves.
The stars of the show were this sow and her two young cubs. Many of the bears in this part of the park aren’t used to people, so they’re more shy than bears in other areas, but this mom seemed pretty tolerant. We had some close photo ops with them, but toward the end of our encounter, I went wide to showcase the family amidst this rugged stretch of the Alaska coastline.
Technical Details
Canon R3
Canon 100-500mm
ISO 1000
1/640th
f/8
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Max, this is a wonderful scene from this part of Alaska. The B&W gives the feel of a bit of winter although photographed in June. The trailing cubs are a real plus to the image. You did not mention what bear species this was. This brings back fond memories for me. My two years flying all over the entire state I encountered every type of bear except a Kodiak.
No thoughts for change whatsoever. Just really enjoying this as presented…
Sorry, I sort of took that for granted. These are Alaska Peninsula brown bears (a.k.a., “coastal brown bears”). There are black bears in the park as well, but the brown bears are the main attraction, of course.
I enjoy seeing the environmental wildlife images that show the habitat the animals live in, versus just closeups. The only thing I might suggest is a crop off the right, it would move the bears off-center and draw the eye more to the lake. I think the left side of the image is more interesting than the right and getting rid of some of the “beach” would put the focus more to where the bears are facing. Really nice work, love the b&w treatment!
The B&W rendition is perfect for this. The texture in the trees would have been lost otherwise and all that detail contrasts nicely against the beach and water where the bears just pop. It must have been a great experience.
Scott, that’s a good observation. I think a square crop as you suggest would definitely work well, with the bears in the lower right corner looking outward. I agree that the left side of the surroundings is more interesting. In this case I was definitely leaning toward maximizing the “grander landscape” to make the bears feel smaller in the frame, but it does sacrifice a bit of the texture balance, as you’ve noted.
Beautiful environmental image. I agree with the suggestion with a slight crop off the right side to just off center the bears in the image but otherwise this is still a great environmental image.
Love the grand landscape here and little cubs bring the smile to viewer. Mid tones are dominating the frame, I would like to see some more blacks here.
A magical scene Max. I also was at Lake Clarke National Park this summer. It was my first wildlife experience. I have never encountered bears in their natural habitat. I was mesmerized with their behaviour, their interactions with the cubs, their skill at fishing, and their fragile, unguarded expressions. My favourite images are bnw, and like you, I took a few environmental wide angle shots. I agree with others re cropping. Bravo.
I agree with the previous comments in that this is a spectacular image. I would also add that I think the sow looking out over the lake adds an emotional aspect to the image. Also, the placement of the bears at the bottom of the dip in the two hills behind them really helps line the eye up to focus on them. Great image!
Vision and Purpose: I think it is a very nice environmental portrait, telling more about the bear family than a close up. Also the B&W conversion is powerful. congratulations
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