I can’t tell if this grizzly in Kananaskis, Alberta looks like she is sheepish or if she is shy. I’m sure she is just hungry. She was such an entertaining bear to watch last summer.
Read my background in wildlife photography practice, as well!
Kananaskis, Alberta -watching the sunset from my tent. The view was alright…
What?! Who’s there?
Curious grizzly bear in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Read about my wildlife photography practices.
I’ve been lucky enough in the past 3 summers to immerse myself in nature and to do this with an expert in wildlife, my boyfriend.
Since seeing my first bear in 2009, it has been my mission to pick out the difference between a black bear and grizzly bear, as other tourists would often shout out that they have just seen a grizzly bear, when, in fact – it was a black bear.
There are a few key differences to help differentiate between the two:
1. Black bears have a straight snout, while grizzlies have a dished in snout/face profile.
2. Black bears do not have a pronounced shoulder hump, while grizzlies do.
3. Black bears ears stick out more, grizzlies are less pronounced.
4. Black bears have shorter claws, you can definitely see grizzlies light long claws a lot more clearly.
5. Black bears, for the most part are much smaller than grizzlies.
Guess the bear – black or grizzly:
Bear #1
Yellowstone National Park
Bear #2
Yellowstone National Park
Bear #3
Yellowstone National Park
Bear #4
Yellowstone National Park
Bear #5
Waterton, Alberta
Bear #6
Waterton, Alberta
Bear #7
Kananaskis, Alberta
Answers:
#1 – Grizzly #2 – Black Bear #3 – Grizzly #4 – Black Bear #5 – Black Bear #6 – Black Bear #7 – Grizzly
How did you do?
PS – Read my view on wildlife photography.
I am a big road trip fan, and I always need to be the one behind the wheel (except when driving a manual transmission in Italy – thanks Katie for taking on that job!).
I’ve done a few gorgeous road drive in my day, and I am going to attempt to pick my mostest favoritest ever.
This is going to be hard.
5. Highwood Pass – Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
I’ve been back and forth on this road a billion times, it feels like. I know it like the back of my hand, I suppose! It was all those early morning and late night drives in search for the perfect grizzly bear to observe.
4. Rogers Pass – TransCanada Highway in B.C., Canada
I didn’t expect much on my way to Revelstoke, B.C.. But this pass was absolutely breathtaking. The wildflowers were the most colourful and widespread I had ever seen!
I wasn’t able to stop and capture my own photo!
3. Going to the Sun – Glacier National Park: Montana, U.S.A.
I’ve completed this drive 3 times now, and I will never, ever get sick of it. It would really be nice to drive it some day when I can actually see the sun peeking through the gloomy clouds. Still – jaw-dropping beauty with all the glaciers, pine trees (ohhh the smells!), and mountain goats.
2. Amalfi Coast – Italy
Zing – jaw dropping scenes and those crazy little towns like Positano hanging off the side of those sheer rock cliffs. Sure, I would move there though!
1. Road to Hana – Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A
WOW – the views! At one spot, there was a very unique tiny town that sold the best banana bread and shave ice. The volcanic rocks and huge crashing waves there were amazing! Once in Hana, we noticed that it was getting late in the day and we had to turn right back around. I was kicking myself for not booking a room there to spend the night (they were full). Try to keep your windows open when you pass the eucalyptus trees – wow! Wow. WOW!
Honourable mentions to Beartooth Highway, the Canadian gold rush route through the Fraser Canyon, the drive from Vancouver to Whistler (Sea to Sky highway), and any driving we did in Italy and Hawaii – there wasn’t a dull scene anywhere!
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta
What a gorgeous mother griz in Kananaskis, Alberta. Too bad the park rangers there are the worst you might ever encounter!
Past Photos:
A great blogger friend of mine once told me not to apologize for leaving, so I will just say – farewell, and see you soon!
I shall post when I have internet access again this summer.
But do not fret, my sister and my friend will be here to keep you company once in a while as well.
See you all in August!! Happy travels!
I really need to play around with this Nikon DSLR before I head out in less than a week to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Wildlife will of course be my #1 priority, I’ll attempt landscape when I can too.
Here are a few tips I have learned from the past 2 years practicing wildlife photography:
1. Always find something to stabilize your camera.
From Amazon
I often roll up my window half way in order to rest my camera on the pane. I also often use a tripod, but sometimes it doesn’t work out, since some wildlife comes right up to the road, and I don’t want to take my chances out of the car.
My father also gave me a pad to help rest my camera on the window of my car.
2. Stay cool, calm and patient if the wildlife is near (just stay cool and calm all the time anyway!)
I’ve seen a few crazy tourists run up to wildlife and, thankfully, it has only ever ended up with the wildlife being chased off. It’s a bit disturbing and frustrating what tourists will do to get close to dangerous and unpredictable wildlife for a quick picture.
3. Be aware of your surroundings.
A funny experience happened as about 30 people were happily shooting photographs of a beaver in Yellowstone. And as they were all focused in the beaver, I was observing the surrounding area, when – ta daaaa – a white wolf popped out of the bushes and proceeded to swim across the river, where the beaver was posing, perhaps 8 feet away. I think I was the victorious one, capturing the wolf’s dip and then able to grab a few beaver photos after.
Plus – you should always make sure you are safe from sneaky animals. Those bison are so huge, yet so quiet when they saunter over toward your car…
4. RESPECT the wildlife!
It’s hard not to have an impact on the behaviour of an animal close to the road. Just make sure you stay out of the way, don’t startle it, and listen to the park rangers if they are around. Don’t be an idiot and feed them. I’ve seen that too many times in the very short months I have been photographing.
5. Time it right!
The beloved golden light that appears with the sunrise and sunset. The best time to photograph anything! And also the best time to spot wildlife, as most of these guys love resting in the day.
Teton’s at sunrise
Just can’t wait to get up at 4:30am every morning this summer, sans coffee. NOT!
6. Practice, practice, practice!
Check out these two photos of a grizzly bear in Kananaskis, Alberta. The first one was taken 2 summers ago, the second was from last summer. (not the same bear, but same lighting and location).
I hope this means that my grizzly shots will be 3D this summer! hah.
Much clearer!
With all I have picked up over the few months I’ve been photographing wildlife, I still have a long way to go. And I still need a great camera!
Wistfully Wandering 