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Archive 2018 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1
  
 
lighthound
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Finally getting around to some of my images I captured last week during a 3 day trip to the OBX.
I have a ton of images I want to share with you all and was going to post them by the day but when I got to these swimming bear images I just had to start processing those first.
I think you will see why!

This was such a magical encounter that Mitesh and I enjoyed together. I was actually trembling from excitement after he swam back into the swamp / forest knowing what kind of captures I was able to get of him during his brief visit with us.

I could tell Mitesh had clearly experienced this type of "personal" connection with these big boys from his calm demeanor, but this was a very first for me to make such an amazing personal connection with a large black bear like this. I was so over taken by awe during all this that I had to keep reminding myself to pull the camera up and start clicking. It was unlike anything I have ever experience photographing wildlife before.
It was magical.

I have a bunch more yet to process and share here so please "bear" with me.
Hope you enjoy viewing these half as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

Dave




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Edited on May 29, 2018 at 10:00 PM · View previous versions
May 29, 2018 at 09:46 PM
lighthound
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


And a few more!

Dave




9






10 Good Bye!






11






12 And it was over
May 29, 2018 at 09:47 PM
James McQueen
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


What an experience with awesome images.

-Jim
May 30, 2018 at 05:22 AM
kdacharya
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


lovely shots. number 8 is my fav.
May 30, 2018 at 06:24 AM
beavens
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


I bet you're still shaking - what an experience! Looks like you barely touch the far end of the 100-400 so this swimming beauty was close by.

Glad you guys had a great time and nice photos! I think 2 with the horsefly on the nose is my fav.

Jeff


May 30, 2018 at 07:07 AM
douter
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


What a fine set! Very nice captures.
Douglas


May 30, 2018 at 07:47 AM
lighthound
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


James McQueen wrote:
What an experience with awesome images.

-Jim

Thanks Jim! And yes it was amazing!
Dave
---------------------------------------------

kdacharya wrote:
lovely shots. number 8 is my fav.

Thank you! I'm glad to hear #8 works as I almost didn't include that one.
Dave
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beavens wrote:
I bet you're still shaking - what an experience! Looks like you barely touch the far end of the 100-400 so this swimming beauty was close by.

Glad you guys had a great time and nice photos! I think 2 with the horsefly on the nose is my fav.

Jeff

You're not kidding Jeff! I kinda messed up on a few of these as I was trying to capture some nice reflections and zoomed out too far then had to crop more than I should have. He was close but I made sure @Mitesh was slightly closer than I. He's younger and could run faster than me so I needed a little head start.

After this encounter was over, I asked Mitesh if he got any with the reflections. He just laughed and said he was just happy to get all the ears and nose in a single frame with his prime lens.

Thanks for the pick and glad you enjoyed them. I have many more nice ones to post, soon I hope.

Dave
May 30, 2018 at 07:50 AM
mitesh
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Wow, Dave, just superb all around! You did really well to position yourself for the best possible compositions here. Processed very nicely, too, considering the challenging light. Can’t wait to see some from the first day and last day — I know you have some wall-hangers in there 😁!

So glad your trip was worth the time and effort! It was a pleasure to meet up with you, and hope we get to meet up again to shoot 👍!
May 30, 2018 at 07:59 AM
morris
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


I thought the first was super till I saw the second which is my pick. I'm also fond of the tenth Dave.

Morris
May 30, 2018 at 08:20 AM
canon.eos30d
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Very nice, Dave. Cute bear in water until seeing its fang in #1 and paw in #10.

-Tam
May 30, 2018 at 09:05 AM
lighthound
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


douter wrote:
What a fine set! Very nice captures.
Douglas

Thanks Douglas! Glad you enjoyed them.
Dave
---------------------------------------------

mitesh wrote:
Wow, Dave, just superb all around! You did really well to position yourself for the best possible compositions here. Processed very nicely, too, considering the challenging light. Can’t wait to see some from the first day and last day — I know you have some wall-hangers in there 😁!

So glad your trip was worth the time and effort! It was a pleasure to meet up with you, and hope we get to meet up again to shoot 👍!

You are too kind Mitesh! Thanks! The light was tough wasn't it. I wish I would have exposed #10 about 1 stop lower but I just couldn't delete that one.

You might think you jinxed me, but if it wasn't for having you there during this encounter, I would have given up and drove away thinking I simply missed the opportunity.
You said he might come back and sure enough, he did! An amazing moment in the outdoors that I will never forget!

I look forward to meeting up again someday!

Dave
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morris wrote:
I thought the first was super till I saw the second which is my pick. I'm also fond of the tenth Dave.

Morris

Thank you Morris! Glad you enjoyed them and thanks for the picks!

Dave
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canon.eos30d wrote:
Very nice, Dave. Cute bear in water until seeing its fang in #1 and paw in #10.

-Tam

Thanks Tam! He was a handsome boy. Well except for the missing left ear.

Dave
May 30, 2018 at 10:00 AM
surfnron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Mitesh is the bear whisperer Dave. I have been there many times, but have never seen as many bears as when with Mitesh. This is a great set with 1 and 3 standing out ~ Ron
May 30, 2018 at 06:27 PM
G.E. Smith
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Fantastic shots. Love the perspective. Super job with the PP !

Greg
May 30, 2018 at 06:33 PM
runakid
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Does Mitesh run trip?. I'd love to be with him. It seems he is always involved with great photos.
That being said- you pushed the button and got the bear and the reflections too. I do not have a favorite. They are all so wonderful.


May 30, 2018 at 07:28 PM
runakid
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


I have been to the OBX- seems overdeveloped for these guys but your pictures prove otherwise.
May 30, 2018 at 07:30 PM
pliukait
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Very nicely done, Dave. Where is OBX?
May 30, 2018 at 08:22 PM
Karl Witt
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


So a bear in the water is like a crocodile?

That one looked quite large and it doesn't seem like there was much distance between you two? Brave work Cool shots........
Karl
May 30, 2018 at 08:28 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


nice job on the bear Dave
May 31, 2018 at 03:44 AM
lighthound
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


surfnron wrote:
Mitesh is the bear whisperer Dave. I have been there many times, but have never seen as many bears as when with Mitesh. This is a great set with 1 and 3 standing out ~ Ron

Yes he is Ron!
I actually was seeing more the day/evening before he arrived and after he left but NOTHING as intense as this particular encounter. Mitesh knew we needed to just hold tight and wait him out in hopes he would come back out. I'm so thankful he was there at this moment because I would have just left thinking I missed the opportunity. And most of these captures would have never happened.

Thanks for the picks Ron!

Dave
---------------------------------------------

G.E. Smith wrote:
Fantastic shots. Love the perspective. Super job with the PP !

Greg

Thank you so much Greg! I was a little worried on the processing especially the WB because of the tricky lighting and shadows. A colorblind guys worst nightmare.

Dave
---------------------------------------------

runakid wrote:
Does Mitesh run trip?. I'd love to be with him. It seems he is always involved with great photos.
That being said- you pushed the button and got the bear and the reflections too. I do not have a favorite. They are all so wonderful.

Thanks for the kind words Daniel!
And nope, Mitesh doesn't run trips as far as I know. He simply had learned of my planned trip and contacted me to see if I was interested in meeting up while I was there. Unfortunately he could only get away for one morning shoot while I was up there.

Dave
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pliukait wrote:
Very nicely done, Dave. Where is OBX?

Hey Pete! Thanks! The OBX is the Outer Banks of NC which is a chain barrier islands along the coast.
I shot these in an area called Alligator River NWR and is mostly void of any houses or other buildings.
It's basically the thickest nastiest swamp forest mix I have ever seen with a few agricultural fields in the area. I was amazed to see how these monster bear actually flourish in such a miserable wet environment.
I was hoping to witness a bear vs. alligator fight breakout while I was there.
I did see several small (less than 6ft) gators in the reserve and a monster 11-12 footer while driving back to camp on the main road before hitting the bridge over to Roanoke Island.

Dave
---------------------------------------------

Karl Witt wrote:
So a bear in the water is like a crocodile?

That one looked quite large and it doesn't seem like there was much distance between you two? Brave work Cool shots........
Karl

Haha! That's what I was thinking too when he smiled at us like that!
Thanks Karl!

Dave
---------------------------------------------

kmunroe wrote:
nice job on the bear Dave

Thank you Kenny! Glad you enjoyed them.

Dave




May 31, 2018 at 09:45 AM
csinseattle
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Black Bear of the OBX - Part 1


Dave, great series, thank goodness for long glass

Chris S
May 31, 2018 at 08:52 PM
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