It was a pretty good visit but the ice was early so I saw less bears than usual (~6 rather than ~20).
I guess the bears will be getting fatter faster this year.
Polar bears congregate at Churchill because its near two freshwater rivers and shallow ocean causing this to be the first frozen ice area. They usually sit near the beach for weeks watching the ice form.
Great shots Scott. Looks like you had another great trip even with a few less bear numbers.
The bears are all great but I really like that snuggled up fox shot.
With the fox shot what is causing all the odd patterning in the processing? Is this noise (ISO 800 shouldn't give that) or just a really big crop? Too much sharpening causing artifacts? Or did you apply some sort of art filter? I love the image but the processing looks odd to me.
morris: I struggled with the colour on the fox. White on white is tough. On my screen it looks okay but I will take another look at it. Glad you like 1, 2, 7,9 and 10. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
csinseattle: Glad you like my few bears. I am spoiled from visting Churchill. Normally I see at least 15. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
mspencer1: Glad you like the set. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
kdacharya: It is a fantastic location. I went on a single day trip to churchill from Saskatoon, out and back the same day for $1700. Save the money it is worthwhile. Glad you like 2, 4, 7, and 10. Much appreciated. Scott
kmunroe: Glad you like the set. Much appreciated. Scott
stanparker: After visiting the polar bears about 10 years, I was looking for the real life moments. Glad you like them. Each bear has its own personality. And its fun to see them. Much appreciated. Scott
Herb Houghton:Glad you like the details in the awesome bears. It is a fantastic place to visit. Much appreciated. Scott
KCollett: Glad you like the bears. Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
JohnJos: You should go. It is fantastic. Nowhere else can you find some numbers of polar bears with reliability, except perhaps where someone has been feeding them. Glad you like the captures. Much appreciated. Scott
arbitrage: Glad you like the fox. I will look at the fox patterning to see if I can save the picture. It was cropped but not that much. I think it is the challenging exposure. I pushed the exposure as far to right as possible but it brought out the noise in the whites.I will take another run at the processing. Thanks for the observation. Much appreciated. Scott
AGeoJO: Glad you like the images of the bear and the fox. Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
surfnron: Glad you like the the pictures. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures. You took such wonderful pictures even tough you were disappointed with the number of bears. Thanks again.
No reply
runakid wrote:
Thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures. You took such wonderful pictures even tough you were disappointed with the number of bears. Thanks again.
No reply
I am glad you enjoyed the pictures. I would not describe my reaction as disappointed. I was surprised. I have been to Churchill 4-5 times over 10 yearsat Nov 11 and the ice has never frozen as early [the bears head out on the ice as soon as it freezes hoping to find seals to eat, after 4 months of not eating].
I was happy for the polar bears - all I hear about is that they are losing their ice season for eating. But this year they will be fat and happy. [except for the pregnant females that will be denning for another 4 months without eating to birth their cubs and come out at Ring seal birthing time]
