Alaskan Bears

Here are a couple of bears I was able to shoot while fishing in the Lake Iliamna area in Alaska in September. It was a little unnerving how quiet these creatures are and can appear and disappear silently. They generally didnt stick around long when we'd come up on them.

The first one we walked up on -- had been fishing there before lunch, had gone 100 yrds downstream for lunch, and when we came back the bears were having lunch. The second one is one that was chilling on the riverbank as we floated down river. The guide stopped the raft and told me I could get closer. After I shot this image I said "I think I'm good." No need to get closer!

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Nice shot! I seem to remember seeing a video of a Grizzly charging a raft. I don't think I would have gotten any closer either!

Great looking bear, I'm not sure I could have left until my card was full,..!! Great opportunity

I agree, wouldn't have left till the card was full. Nice looking young bear though.

Very nice shot.

Still can't get the second picture to post -- guess I'll have to create another post.

Unfortunately this bear left me. She ate half the salmon and let her cub finish the rest and then both disappeared into the bush.

This shot is the cub of the first bear, plus a "teenager" to the left The sow had wandered off to my right trying to fish a sockeye out of a tree in the water.

JJ3 wrote in post #17344780
.....It was a little unnerving how quiet these creatures are and can appear and disappear silently......The guide stopped the raft and told me I could get closer....

I am amazed at how incredibly fast these creatures can travel. The thought of getting closer would NOT have entered my mind.... Even though the pic was made with a 400mm lens, just looking at it sends chills up my spine. Incredible pic!