In the Field

Into the Abyss. Khutzeymateen Inlet (Great Bear Rainforest), BC. May 30, 2009.

This is a scene that I have the amazing privilege of viewing a few times per year. It's at the top of the Khutzeymateen Inlet of northern BC - right as you're entering the estuary. And, lurking within that fog and mist is the quarry which I love to pursue - the coastal grizzly bear. Many people who would describe themselves as more "normal" than bear photographers would wonder why anyone in their right mind would float into this thick fog in search of a massive bear. Oh well...each to their own...

As is often the case for me, I captured this image using a longer lens than many others would use (in this case a 200-400 mm zoom lens). For some reason I tend to look quite far into the distance for many of my scenic shots - perhaps it's just because I do so much wildlife photography with long lenses that I inherently have an advanced case of "telephoto vision". But I do like the way how the narrow field of view of telephoto lenses allows me to "sub-sample" just a small portion of a scene. And, I like how long telephotos tend to compress the space between near(er) and distant objects in a scene - creating the impression that the elements are close together.

Behind the Camera

Into the Abyss. Khutzeymateen Inlet (Great Bear Rainforest), BC. May 30, 2009.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) 14-bit format; ISO 400.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 200 mm - handheld from floating zodiac. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/250s @ f5.6; -0.33 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Into the Abyss. Khutzeymateen Inlet (Great Bear Rainforest), BC. May 30, 2009.

RAW Conversion to 16-bit TIFF, including exposure curve adjustment, first-pass/capture sharpening and shadow/highlight adjustments using Phase One's Capture One Pro 4.8.

Further digital corrections on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS4. Adjustments included selective colour saturation and desaturation, selective exposure curve adjustment, and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Into the Abyss. Khutzeymateen Inlet (Great Bear Rainforest), BC. May 30, 2009.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Raincoast.

Species Status of Grizzlies 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