Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

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Archive 2009 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #1 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

2 of series. We parked a way from two young bears. They spent about 1/2 an hour sparing with each other. I suspect they are a couple of years old and just separating from mom. In the background you can see the ocean has not yet frozen over. Next week if the wind changes and blows the ice in they will all be gone.

1-3 of 6 sparing bears.

Comments and feedback is appreciated. Scott

Canon EOS 7D 300 mm 1/500 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

Canon EOS 7D 310 mm 1/400 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

Canon EOS 7D 400 mm 1/500 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

Edited on Nov 16, 2009 at 06:40 AM · View previous versions

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:13 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #2 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Until they go tired. Then they lay down on the snow with the groin down to cool off from the heat they built up.

Amazing after 4 months of not eating.

4-6 of 6

Canon EOS 7D 310 mm 1/500 sec 250 ISO +0.7 EV

Canon EOS 7D 400 mm 1/640 sec 250 ISO +0.7 EV

Canon EOS 7D 400 mm 1/500 sec 1250 ISO +0.7 EV

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:15 AM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #3 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Polar bears scavenge like bears do. I'm sure they've found something to fill their tummies. At least I hope so.

Lovely set

Lil

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:17 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #4 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Lil Judd: They are scavengers but not very good ones in Churchill because there is not much to eat and they are highly adapted to hunting on ice. Occassionly they will find a baluga whale straned by the tide and will eat it, but mostly they don't eat until November. Our guide described that they come back so fat that they can hardly walk in June and then go into a slowed metabolism that is like a walking hibernation until November. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:32 AM

ollram
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p.1 #5 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

great shots!!!! Canada at its best!

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:51 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #6 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Woops --- In my tired state from yesterday -- I just notice that I had posted twice today -- my apologies.

Ollram: Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott

Nov 16, 2009 at 05:04 AM

Rob Tillyer
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p.1 #7 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

These are great Scott, good job on the exposures. Three is my favourite, but six is very comical. I can't wait for more.

Rob

Nov 16, 2009 at 05:04 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #8 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Rob: 6 was great - the boxed and boxed and then just lay down and slept. They must be getting excited for the ice arrival on the ocean. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott

Nov 16, 2009 at 05:14 AM

MtnM
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p.1 #9 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

All are simply wonderful glimpses into the world of the polar bear.
The stark black and whites surrounding the bears in #1 sets a very lovely tone.
It is my favorite of your shots.

Nov 16, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Desert Drake
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p.1 #10 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

A wonderful series, Scott. Let's all hope that there is plenty of ice this year.
Al

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:04 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #11 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

MtnM: I was a super long way off in that shot but liked the background. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

Al: It looked like there was ice on the horizon so I am hopeful they are eating ring seals today. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

Nov 16, 2009 at 01:57 PM

Mr Zoom
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p.1 #12 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Another fun and informative set from your adventure, Scott

Ken

Nov 16, 2009 at 02:34 PM

Raymond44
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p.1 #13 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Scott, I vote for #1. It shows not only the 2 bears sparring, but also a good perspective of the terrain where they are.

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:03 PM

BearCreekLar
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p.1 #14 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Very nicely done Scott! I think you handled the whites extremely well. 1, 3, 5 and 6 are my favorites.
Larry

Nov 16, 2009 at 04:11 PM

Hide Takahashi
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p.1 #15 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Excellent Polar Bear behavioral series. So you live in the capital of Polar Bears.
I've seen a show about Polar Bears in Churchill MB in Discovery Channel before
and the camera man in that show actually was attacked by a Polar Bear. But he was o.k. I think thay can run faster than we think.

You mentioned about the bear's laying down on the snow with the groin down to cool off from the heat they built up and I wonder that is where they handle the heat.

Hide

Nov 16, 2009 at 05:06 PM

GAREN
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p.1 #16 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Another great series Scott

Garen

Nov 16, 2009 at 07:31 PM

JJBub
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p.1 #17 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

These are very interesting, Scott. Enjoyed all.

How are you liking the 7D? I have one on order.

Nov 16, 2009 at 07:41 PM

Dreampusher
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p.1 #18 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Excellent! That must have been a great trip.
700 pictures to go, right?

Nov 16, 2009 at 07:42 PM

harland
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p.1 #19 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Great series, you lucky dog

Darryl

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:26 PM

b.a.smith
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p.1 #20 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

great action set Scott, it is amazing how long animals can live on there own body fat

alan

Nov 16, 2009 at 11:38 PM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #21 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Ken: Thanks for the feedback. I hope you like the next set. Thanks Scott

Ray: I like this shot too - the bears are small but it kind of gives you the context of the huge creatures. Thanks Scott

Larry: I just kept checking my historgram and increasing the exposure and it worked - happily. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

Hide They do run faster than you and I, and they are very hungry and massive in size and power. I live 2.5 hours away by 737 so a bit far but it was really fun. Thanks for the comments. Scott

Garen: Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott

JJbub: I am really likeing the 7d. What will surprise you is the instant response when you press the button, the very light mirror slap, the great focus and great ISO response, I really love the autoiso. I have the 5dii and it has better IQ at 3200 but the 7d is close and the 1.6x with my 100-400 really makes a difference, but mostly the instant response and light shutter response really helps hand held. You will enjoy it. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

Dreamphusher: Hmmm - maybe more like 2000 at 8 frames per second. Scott

Darryl: I was lucky - it was fantastic. Thanks Scott

Alan: The guide says that some of them come back so fat in June that their belly is dragging. So they need the energy to make it through to now. They are amazingly adapted. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:35 AM

Johnny Bravo
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p.1 #22 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Scott Stoness wrote:
.........they lay down on the snow with the groin down to cool off from the heat they built up.....

Let's not judge.

Who amoung us has not suffered from an overheated groin and sought out some snow for relief?

Nov 17, 2009 at 12:45 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #23 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Johnny Bravo:

Thanks for the comment. Scott

Nov 17, 2009 at 01:58 AM

ctrlfrk789
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p.1 #24 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Well it looks like you had a good day!! Awesome shots Scott. Dan

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:49 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #25 · Polar Bear Sparing - Churchill MB - 7d - Series 2

Dan: It was awesome. Next year the whole weekend at least or longer. Thanks. Scott

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:37 AM


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