USA, Alaska, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, A polar bear mother and cub playing on Barter Island
I have just returned from co-leading my first Polar Bear Photography Tour in Alaska. It was an incredible success! I created some fantastic images, but more importantly, so did my clients. I can't wait to do it again next year. I'll be updating my website this fall with information about next year's tours, but if anyone is still interested in photographing the polar bears this year, my partner Steve Kazlowski is available in Alaska for clients. Please email me at jon@cornforthimages.com for more information.
This was my first time photographing polar bears. I now understand how addictive photographing them can be. On the last day of my tour, I was able to photograph this mother and cub wrestling in the snow for an hour. It was incredible watching the cub continuously jump on or slide under it's mom. Check out those mischievous little eyes staring at it's mom right before it pounces. I was initially frustrated that they were farther away than I would normally like to shoot, but I pulled out all of my equipment in order to get in as tight as possible. I was on a boat which required me to hand-hold my Canon 7D with my 500mm f4 IS lens plus 1.4X tele-extender. That is equivalent to an 1120mm lens! I was able to freeze the action at 1/1000 second by setting my camera to ISO 800. This image is a single-exposure which was slightly cropped and required minimal processing using Aperture 3 and Photoshop CS5.
You can also "Like" my Fan Page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
sameermundkur, idashum, kcvensel, and 149 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
derene 8187 Happy Holidays 21 months ago | reply
Please share this wonderful image with group Show Room
This invitation counts as an award as well
Mangini Adalberto & Laura 21 months ago | reply
Congratulations, Your photo has been selected as image of the week and is now on the front page of Scenics & Wilderness Group.
An image you have to be proud of!
Thank you!
Here you are: www.flickr.com/groups/1344122@N23/
F Fazal 21 months ago | reply
Cute!
Cornforth Images 21 months ago | reply
coyrooster 21 months ago | reply
Polar bear pictures are everywhere but few are endearing as this one, especially *paused* in full-screen mode. How you did this, Jon, perched on a boat peering through a turbo telephoto with a hand-held camera, is the supreme sort of skill used by magicians to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
You could donate this gem to groups campaigning tirelessly to protect ANWR (Arctic National Wilderness Refuge) from the insidious threat of oil & gas drilling, both on land and offshore. Might enhance your reputation. Here are a few:
National Wildlife Refuge Association
EARTHJUSTICE
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
National Resources Defense Council
Defenders of Wildlife
Alaska Wilderness League
____________________________________
Seen in BORN to be WILD
VittorioRicci 21 months ago | reply
beautifully captured!
Marcel Tuit 21 months ago | reply
Another stunning shot. Also great pose of the large bear. Very good work!
Via your photostream on Fluidr
bubble gum [deleted] 21 months ago | reply
lovely wildlife picture
patia 21 months ago | reply
Omg, this one made me gasp.
bkilty21 21 months ago | reply
Spectacular! I love the playfulness you've captured here! Great shot!
sHirLeybeLLes [keeping the faith] -- catching up! 20 months ago | reply
ohh i loved this!
frank1556 20 months ago | reply
Amazing.
OsoBueno1487 20 months ago | reply
How wonderful!
*Ziia 20 months ago | reply
love :)
okrakaro 20 months ago | reply
a fantastic capture!!
I saw your great polar bear photo in
Polar Bears International
Thank you for sharing!
Charles Augustus 18 months ago | reply
Fantastic expression!
Wild through my eyes 14 months ago | reply
Omg...Omg..Omg....Sir...I am in love with this...Soo beautiful wooooooooow
M.A.Gibson 9 months ago | reply
Very nice capture
valentino * 9 months ago | reply
bella fotografia
Daniel Tshibangu 8 months ago | reply
Lovely shot