20 seconds

[IPT]

That is about the amount of time I had to photograph this guy. I just happened to come up from downstairs and I saw him walking across the front yard at the right moment. I grabbed for the camera and tossed the lens cap off as I powered up. He stopped to see what the noise was (the porch door opening). I had the 300mm on the camera, set at ISO 800, wide open at F4, 0 exp compensation for a moment just like this. Still, even with the "midnight sun", at 11:50pm and in the dark area he was in I knew I was in trouble when I heard how long the shutter was staying open. I banged out a flurry of shots hoping the IS and some luck would allow one shot to be grabbed (preferable not the one with his back to me - that of course was technically the best of the bunch (sigh)). By the time I took a few steps to brace on the deck rail he was gone.

Anyway, blurry, but a cool moment captured none the less. Thought I'd share.

 

[bobby65]

Sweet nice encounter

 

[Reef Bass]

Good job getting the shots Louis! If that were to happen to me I'd be tripping over myself trying to get the camera going, but the bear would hang out laughing at me until I finally pointed the lens at him.

 

[Brett9917]

I rush for my camera if I see a male cardinal in my back yard... You get a bear... :spin1:

 

[Misled]

He gets moose too. I get stink bugs!!!!!!

 

[SushiGirl]

i rush for my camera if i see a male cardinal in my back yard... You get a bear... :spin1:

+1

 

[Recty]

Pretty cool. I like how that last one looks like he is moving really fast, his hair is blurring. You should say it was mid day and the bear was just really moving out, they were taken at 1/500th shutter speed

 

[IPT]

yeah, I thnk it's pretty cool. I love it actually ... the down side is every time you leave the house you really do need to take a look around. The last thing you want to do is startle a bear!


Grant - man, he was hauling a** in that last shot . They are amazingly agile creatures!

Jesse - are you kidding, stink bugs? You have all those flowers all over the place. We still had snow by the foot and you were shooting flowers already . Moose? Oh man, did you have to remind me of the other dismal photographic failure this weekend? There actually was a moose bedded down in the backyard. She was pretty scraggly looking though so I wasn't inspired to grab the camera. I was just watching her laze out and enjoying her presence. Then her ears went up, she spun her head around, then all of a sudden she up and running. I new something was nearby so grabbed the camera and looked around. After a little bit I finally spotted another cow with a calf! Bugger was deep in the brush though. I could barely see them and sadly couldn't get a clear shot. I started searching for them once they moved from my sight. I found them, but they were bedded down in a depression. With all the leaf litter, downed branches, and folliage there was just no way I could get near enough to get a shot. All I saw over the brush was was momma's ears tuned in to my every step. Maybe I could have got closer but the risk of spoking them, stressing them, or worse yet putting momma in a defensive protective mode was just not worth it to me. I'm still hoping they become more visable soon in a scnario we're both comfortable with. Last year a calf was practically born in the yard and they were around for days. No such luck this year. Well, at the very least I can usually count on this Snowshoe Hare being around! He's fairly regular ... except in the winter with his white coat ... another shot that eludes me!

 

[xtm]

That's great! Imagine shooting macros in your front yard and all of a sudden this dude's right next to you?

 

[Recty]

That's great! Imagine shooting macros in your front yard and all of a sudden this dude's right next to you?

I had that happen last year with this guy... I walked around the corner of the house and somewhere between 10-15' away was this bear, standing there staring at me. I slowly backed away and he did also, but I was a little worried.

 

[Brett9917]

Recty: Oh crap... a bear....

Bear: Oh crap.... a Recty....

 

[Reef Bass]

:lmao: