No amount of SR...

No amount of SR... · 06:20 AM

can save you if you're frightened while shooting

These shots taken at Castle Mountain Chalets, in Banff Alberta Canada. K20D, DA*300.

I took about 30 shots of this Grizzly Bear, but only a few came out reasonably sharp - camera shake in many. Unfortunately, my concern over my safety over-rode my ability to keep the camera steady. A couple of times I had put myself in a bad position, where if the bear had charged, I would have had trouble getting away (not that I could have outrun him anyways!).

Cropped from original:

Link to large size:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2572185347_9f3c0e0c4b_o.jpg

Cropped from original:

Link to large size:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2572203851_3ec15c7602_o.jpg

Cropped from original:

Link to large size:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2572223469_a78a6a2f0a_o.jpg

Mark

AndrewShirley · 06-12-2008, 06:55 AM

You have larger kahunas than me. Nice shots!

- Andrew

Truax_photo · 06-12-2008, 07:25 AM

Great shots considering the circumstances! The only way I want to see a grizzly that close is through the fence at the zoo!

Andrew Faires · 06-12-2008, 07:44 AM

Those first two shots are amazing. And like Andrew S. said....you've got bigger boys than me for getting these!

volosong · 06-12-2008, 09:16 AM

Ah, let's see... You were using a 300mm, which equates to 450mm on our Pentaxes. Add the four 2x teleconverters, and you were plenty safe.

Great shots! You are un-officially nicknamed, "the big Kahuna".

Adam67 · 06-12-2008, 10:16 AM

What kind of gun were you packin? I wouldn't shoot (pictures) of grizzlys without at least a 44magnum near by. 98% of the time you'll be fine.....but that 2% can be a bitch. You can't outrun them & you can't outclimb them....and they have no fear of people. Personaly I would swim with sharks before approaching grizzlys or worse yet polars.

Oh....nice shots BTW

little laker · 06-12-2008, 10:38 AM

Good shots Mark,

I'm never worried about bears. Most of them would rather eat in the berry patch than even give you a second look.

However I wouldn't want to get that close to a cougar

user440 · 06-12-2008, 10:46 AM

I have a similar picture. During vacation at Hilton Head last week, this little 14 footer snuck up behind me.

Camera shack via walking away in the other direction.

Ahhhh much better -V

ftpaddict · 06-12-2008, 11:05 AM

Hey, you made it back alive, no?

Darth Ramirez · 06-12-2008, 08:42 PM

Thanks to all for the compliments! The first two pictures I'd say were shot at about 25 yards. The bear was walking toward me and I had a bunch of fallen trees behind me making an escape difficult but I managed to get around them. That was not the closest I got though, about 5 minutes later I was turning around one of the cabins there and he was again walking toward me but this time at about 30 feet. I let out a loud yell and ran the opposite direction. At about 10 strides I looked over my shoulder and saw that my yell had scared him and he had turned around and was quite far the other direction. Whew

Here's one more of him getting pretty close to the Chalet's staff accommodations:

Mark

**Mallee Boy** · 06-12-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by Darth Ramirez

Thanks to all for the compliments! The first two pictures I'd say were shot at about 25 yards. The bear was walking toward me and I had a bunch of fallen trees behind me making an escape difficult but I managed to get around them. That was not the closest I got though, about 5 minutes later I was turning around one of the cabins there and he was again walking toward me but this time at about 30 feet. I let out a loud yell and ran the opposite direction. At about 10 strides I looked over my shoulder and saw that my yell had scared him and he had turned around and was quite far the other direction. Whew

Here's one more of him getting pretty close to the Chalet's staff accommodations:

Mark

So much for the rangers advice not to yell and run when you see a bear.

Great shots and congratulations on the courage displayed.

stevebrot · 06-12-2008, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by Adam67

What kind of gun were you packin? I wouldn't shoot (pictures) of grizzlys without at least a 44magnum near by. 98% of the time you'll be fine.....but that 2% can be a bitch. You can't outrun them & you can't outclimb them....and they have no fear of people. Personaly I would swim with sharks before approaching grizzlys or worse yet polars.

Oh....nice shots BTW

I read this news clip just before reading this thread...

Ore. man recalls terrifying bear attack | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local & Regional

Steve

Jonson PL · 06-13-2008, 04:19 AM

That's a big one, and he has got you spotted

Techiechick · 06-13-2008, 06:33 AM

Excellent series of shots. I share the same sentiments as the others. A zoo works for me. LOL

Adam67 · 06-13-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

I read this news clip just before reading this thread...

Ore. man recalls terrifying bear attack | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local & Regional

Steve

Yeah.....a .45ACP is inadequate for bear. It does not have anywhere near the penetration of a .44mag (which I would consider the bare minimum for a grizzly). A .454 casull would be even better. Now black bear you might get away with a .357mag......but they tend to be very skittish and generally avoid contact with people.

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06-12-2008, 06:55 AM	#2
AndrewShirley Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 421	You have larger kahunas than me. Nice shots! - Andrew

06-12-2008, 07:25 AM	#3
Truax_photo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 142	Great shots considering the circumstances! The only way I want to see a grizzly that close is through the fence at the zoo!

06-12-2008, 07:44 AM	#4
Andrew Faires Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 744	Those first two shots are amazing. And like Andrew S. said....you've got bigger boys than me for getting these!

06-12-2008, 09:16 AM	#5
volosong Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 696	Ah, let's see... You were using a 300mm, which equates to 450mm on our Pentaxes. Add the four 2x teleconverters, and you were plenty safe. Great shots! You are un-officially nicknamed, "the big Kahuna".

06-12-2008, 10:16 AM	#6
Adam67 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: MI Posts: 62	What kind of gun were you packin? I wouldn't shoot (pictures) of grizzlys without at least a 44magnum near by. 98% of the time you'll be fine.....but that 2% can be a bitch. You can't outrun them & you can't outclimb them....and they have no fear of people. Personaly I would swim with sharks before approaching grizzlys or worse yet polars. Oh....nice shots BTW

06-12-2008, 10:38 AM	#7
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Good shots Mark, I'm never worried about bears. Most of them would rather eat in the berry patch than even give you a second look. However I wouldn't want to get that close to a cougar

06-12-2008, 10:46 AM	#8
user440 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 349	I have a similar picture. During vacation at Hilton Head last week, this little 14 footer snuck up behind me. Camera shack via walking away in the other direction. Ahhhh much better -V

06-12-2008, 11:05 AM	#9
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Hey, you made it back alive, no?

06-12-2008, 08:42 PM	#10
Darth Ramirez Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 33 Original Poster	Thanks to all for the compliments! The first two pictures I'd say were shot at about 25 yards. The bear was walking toward me and I had a bunch of fallen trees behind me making an escape difficult but I managed to get around them. That was not the closest I got though, about 5 minutes later I was turning around one of the cabins there and he was again walking toward me but this time at about 30 feet. I let out a loud yell and ran the opposite direction. At about 10 strides I looked over my shoulder and saw that my yell had scared him and he had turned around and was quite far the other direction. Whew Here's one more of him getting pretty close to the Chalet's staff accommodations: Mark

06-12-2008, 09:08 PM	#11
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	Originally posted by Darth Ramirez Thanks to all for the compliments! The first two pictures I'd say were shot at about 25 yards. The bear was walking toward me and I had a bunch of fallen trees behind me making an escape difficult but I managed to get around them. That was not the closest I got though, about 5 minutes later I was turning around one of the cabins there and he was again walking toward me but this time at about 30 feet. I let out a loud yell and ran the opposite direction. At about 10 strides I looked over my shoulder and saw that my yell had scared him and he had turned around and was quite far the other direction. Whew Here's one more of him getting pretty close to the Chalet's staff accommodations: Mark So much for the rangers advice not to yell and run when you see a bear. Great shots and congratulations on the courage displayed.

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06-12-2008, 09:53 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Adam67 What kind of gun were you packin? I wouldn't shoot (pictures) of grizzlys without at least a 44magnum near by. 98% of the time you'll be fine.....but that 2% can be a bitch. You can't outrun them & you can't outclimb them....and they have no fear of people. Personaly I would swim with sharks before approaching grizzlys or worse yet polars. Oh....nice shots BTW I read this news clip just before reading this thread... Ore. man recalls terrifying bear attack \| KATU.com - Portland, Oregon \| Local & Regional Steve

06-13-2008, 04:19 AM	#13
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	That's a big one, and he has got you spotted

06-13-2008, 06:33 AM	#14
Techiechick Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: High Springs, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 571	Excellent series of shots. I share the same sentiments as the others. A zoo works for me. LOL

06-13-2008, 10:59 AM	#15
Adam67 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: MI Posts: 62	Originally posted by stevebrot I read this news clip just before reading this thread... Ore. man recalls terrifying bear attack \| KATU.com - Portland, Oregon \| Local & Regional Steve Yeah.....a .45ACP is inadequate for bear. It does not have anywhere near the penetration of a .44mag (which I would consider the bare minimum for a grizzly). A .454 casull would be even better. Now black bear you might get away with a .357mag......but they tend to be very skittish and generally avoid contact with people.