Yellowstone Grizzly - insane closeups!

[Tom Reichner]

Kristin and I  took a weekend trip to Yellowstone, and were fortunate to see and photograph a good variety of the park's wildlife. Dunraven Pass was finally cleared of snow, and we were able to drive that route on just the 2nd day it was open. We're so glad we did!

A nice, mature grizzly was approaching us at a steady pace. We didn't see it until it was about 40 yards away, so it was already very near, and gave me almost no time to get ready for it. I only had time to get my 1.4x converter off. I rapidly got into position and started clicking away! He came straight at us until about 6 paces away - then he turned and changed course.

It all happened so fast I didn't even have a chance to check any of my settings. I was at f8 and ISO 200. Yikes! There had been no time whatsoever to set up a tripod, so I was left handholding my heavy 400 f2.8. Shaky! I wish the grizz would have given me just a few extra seconds so I could have adjusted my aperture and ISO to give me faster shutter speeds. But there was simply no time, and I had to shoot him the way it was.

I was able to rip off about 15 to 20 images before he changed course and turned his backside to me. Many images were blurry, but a few were reasonably sharp. If I'd had a tripod set up they'd be crystal clear, but as is so often the case with wildlife he simply gave me very little time. I'm just thankful to have gotten what I did.

We saw several other grizzlies during the two days that we were in the park, but none gave us the thrill of this very close-up encounter. After something like this, it's hard to have much interest in viewing a grizzly that's 600 yards away thru a spotting scope. All I wanted was another close-up encounter!

By the way, the 2nd image is completely uncropped - that's what I got right out of the camera with just a 400mm on a full frame 5D body. Yes, he was that close!

[saylean]

Not a bad weekend! Glad all went home ok. Nice pics man, love them bearskies

[grandpawrichard]

Holy Cow Tom!
That was Way To Close for comfort; but your shots are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

Dick

[jackelope]

giddyup...my wife and i had a close encounter with one there...we were fishing slough creek in the lamar valley and walked up on one on the trail. the bear was about 30 yards when we saw him. i don't think he ever knew we were there, that or he didn't care. we turned around and went the other way quietly. i guess if i had to i could have poked him in the eye with my fly rod.
great pic's and way to not wet yourself with him that close.
 

[Huntbear]

WOW!!!  Very cool pics!!!  Love the close encounter.  Glad he decided you did not look like dinner...

[coop2424]

Those are awesome pictures especially since you did not have much time to setup. 

[boneaddict]

OHHHHHH thats awesome.

[WDFW-SUX]

pretty bear

[popeshawnpaul]

Looks like you are having a good time Tom.  I did the same thing last year in Hayden Valley when a griz not unlike yours headed right at me.  I overexposed 4 stops but was able to get it all back with raw.  Got to love the new dslr cameras.  Looking forward to more shots.

[huntnphool]

Nice pics Tom

[Pathfinder101]

great bear pics Tom.. Holy crap that's close.  Took guts to keep snapping pics, but we're glad you did.
  I had a signficant emotional event with a mamma griz and a cub at Buffalo Ford when I was 16 years old.  Turned out OK, but there were a few tense moments.
Nice work!

[Slider]

WOW!!! That Bear gave me Goose Bumps!!!

[Ricochet]

Good job, Tom.  Stellar work, as usual.

[bowhunterforever]

Awsome pics!

[Timber]

Incredible shots Tom!