In the Field

Peekaboo! Great Bear Rainforest (northern BC coast), Canada. September 12, 2005.

As we were approaching this female grizzly we assumed it was alone. As I framed the bear in my viewfinder the young cub's head popped out from behind its mother. It was an exciting moment, and I certainly ended up getting a better image than I had bargained for! Sometimes you just get lucky!

Behind the Camera

Peekaboo! Great Bear Rainforest (northern BC coast), Canada. September 12, 2005.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 200.

Nikon D2X with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 200 mm (300 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) - hand held (VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode)

1/160s @ f4; -0.7 stop exposure compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Peekaboo! Great Bear Rainforest (northern BC coast), Canada. September 12, 2005.

RAW Conversion to 16-bit TIFF, including first-pass sharpening and curves adjustment, using Phase One's C1 Pro.

All further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS2, including selective saturation enhancement and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Peekaboo! Great Bear Rainforest (northern BC coast), Canada. September 12, 2005.

Ten percent of the selling price of this image (Limited Edition Print and Rights-managed Stock) will be donated to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Species Status in Canada*: Special Concern (May 2002).

While Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos) are not technically listed as "Endangered" in Canada, they have been extirpated from most of their historical range. Grizzly Bears are far more sensitive to intrusion/disturbance in their habitat than are Black Bears and are being increasingly forced into marginal habitat by human encroachment. The Great Bear Rainforest along the central and northern coast of British Columbia is one of the last strongholds of the Grizzly Bear in Canada, and even this population is coming under increasing pressure.

The Raincoast Conservation Society (and Foundation) is an effective and efficient organization that has been fighting for protection of this unique habitat. If you are looking for a meaningful way to contribute to the conservation of this amazing ecosystem, Raincoast will provide maximal "bang" for your conservation dollars.

For more information on the status of Grizzly Bears in Canada, go to: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca and search under "Grizzly Bears".

*as determined by COSEWIC: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada