show me your best are you looking at me shots

Grand Dad wrote in post #18652556
Maybe not nuts Pondrader, but I would say lucky. My understanding is that while bears don't see all that well, their sense of smell is excellent and their hearing is more than enough to know you were that close. Those are great shots and you are certainly more brave than I would be. Stay safe and keep up the excellent shots.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18652723
Stay safe and perhaps talk to some wildlife experts on how to work with bears. Don't take any chances!

Pondrader wrote in post #18653176
I appreciate what your saying but I was never in danger. Maybe come on down and I'll take you out to meet a few.

EastBayGirl wrote in post #18653184
Famous last words!!! Lol!

EastBayGirl wrote in post #18653184
Famous last words!!! Lol!

Lame-Duck wrote in post #18652773
That's a really nice shot. He's one tough looking bruiser.

Pondrader wrote in post #18653176
Guys... I was raised by wolves.. lol. And played with bears as a youngin for fun lol I appreciate what your saying but I was never in danger. Maybe come on down and I'll take you out to meet a few.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18653269
Thank you Jeff... I would really enjoy touring with you, but sadly I can't do it. Besides, you say "come on down".

I am already down from you Jeff! I live in Indiana! It might be better weather than we are having right now as it is s'posed to get really hot this weekend.

Pondrader wrote in post #18650409
A few years back I found a little spot where a lake runs through a dam and down into another lake. One side is pristine flat smooth water lit by brilliantly green maple and evergreen trees. The other is rock and fast moving water speed of which is governed by the dam elevation. This side has the bait fish for the ducks and Herons, Otters abound here loving the crayfish and bait fish. Up until this year I have seen Mink here regularly swimming and feeding sometimes for hours.. Great fun shooting him.

But the best part of all is the pair of Loons that nest right here in the green water every spring. They have taught me how to cope with the very dark body and head and not blow the whites of their underside that is so so white, and still get their colours around their necks and wings.

The trick here is I'm sitting on shore... mostly just in blue jeans and t-shirt but sometimes I'll try the Lens coat blind that pulls over you and your tripod.
This land is bald granite sliding into the water, perfect for getting super low on the water.

The big trick is being there the morning the chicks are hatched because thats the show... thats when the Loons are very cautious and take their time heading out into the big blue water's of the lake. On this hatching day I was so very lucky that an otter was swimming the lake shore line at just the right moment to turn the Loon back to me not once but twice. Giving me more images than a guy knows what to do with.

I filled my cards that morning a few feet from the loons who were more than happy to just stay in their bay of green putting on a show for an appreciative photographer so he could share here on POTN.

And thats the rest of the story.....

This image I processed this morning for this post taken 2017-06-16 9:16am

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18653476
Kokomo is 90 miles SOUTH of Elkhart, so it would be like 6 1/2 hours to Elkhart from where you live.

Lt Colonel wrote in post #18653486
I can just imagine the peace and serenity being there and photographing these beautiful birds must bring. I have recently found the Pocosin Lakes and Alligator River Wildlife Refuges as a mental health escape in my area. Unfortunately they are 2 -3 hour drives.