In the Field

The Essential Khutzeymateen. Khutzeymateen Inlet, BC, Canada. May 29, 2008.

During a recent trip to the Khutzeymateen Inlet I was determined to photograph more than just close-ups of grizzlies. In particular, I was hoping to capture an image that fully encapsulated what the Khutzeymateen means to me. Which meant that the image had to contain all of the following: a bear; elements of the rainforest (particularly the moss hanging from the trees); the grassy estuary; and, most importantly, the mood, atmosphere and "essence" of the Khutzeymateen. Today, almost a month and a half after my trip, while processing the last of my "keepers" from the trip, I found my image - THIS is the Khutzeymateen (and the latest addition to my "essential" series of photographs).

There were two major challenges in capturing this photograph. The first was mostly pyschological: when in the Khutzeymateen the bears can be so numerous and so predominant that it can be hard to look past them and see (or visualize) a full scene where a bear isn't the overwhelming dominant subject. In essence, you have to avoid bear-centric tunnel-vision. Easy to say - not so easy to do...

The second major challenge was more technical/logistic. I saw this scene while we were motoring along in an inflatable Zodiac boat. So I had to deal with the vibration and rocking associated with being in a moving vehicle - which meant I didn't have the option of using a slow shutter speed. Fortunately I was using a camera that gave me the option of using a higher ISO with almost no penalty (a Nikon D3). I also had to deal with the challenge to "framing" the image to my taste (including getting the horizon level) while being jostled about. Oh well, if it was too easy everyone would be doing it...

This image was captured during my annual "Grizzlies of the Khutzeymateen" Instructional Photo Tour in the spring of 2008. If you're interested in joining me on one of my photo tours into the Great Bear Rainforest, check out the details on my "Photo Tours" page. My Instructional Photo Tours into the Great Bear Rainforest are run in conjunction with Ocean Light II Adventures - they offer a number of amazing adventure tours (including top-notch bear-viewing tours as well as tours of exploration of the Queen Charlotte Islands) and I highly recommend them!

Behind the Camera

The Essential Khutzeymateen. Khutzeymateen Inlet, BC, Canada. May 29, 2008.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) 14-bit format; ISO 560.

Nikon D3 with Nikon 200 mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR lens - hand-held from moving Zodiac. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/125s @ f5; -0.33 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

The Essential Khutzeymateen. Khutzeymateen Inlet, BC, Canada. May 29, 2008.

RAW Conversion to 16-bit TIFF, including first-pass/capture sharpening and exposure compensation using Phase One's Capture One 4.

Further digital corrections on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and Light Crafts LightZone. Digital polarizing filter applied with LightZone. Selective saturation enhancement and selective sharpening applied with Photoshop.

Conservation

The Essential Khutzeymateen. Khutzeymateen Inlet, BC, Canada. May 29, 2008.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Pacific Wild*

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.

*Pacific Wild is a non-profit conservation organization that is committed to:

1. Defending wildlife and their habitat on CanadaÕs Pacific coast by developing and implementing solution-based conservation strategies. Pacific Wild supports innovative research, public education, community outreach and awareness to achieve the goal of lasting environmental protection in the lands and waters of the Great Bear Rainforest.

2. Working with a diverse array of communities, First Nations, groups and individuals to ensure that biodiversity protection is at the forefront of land and marine use decisions.

3. Mobilizing a concerned global citizenry to achieve large-scale wildlife protection.

Natural Art Images supports the efforts of Pacific Wild and encourages you to do the same.

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