This is not a recent picture. In fact, I took it a decade ago on a film camera. Although it looks like a captive bear, it is a completely wild animal taking a break from gorging on salmon in a small stream. It is a young, handsome animal, unscarred by the trials of life. 

It has never been published anywhere, yet I have always liked it. This could simply be further affirmation of the known fact that photographers are poor judges of their own work...or it may be that we are simply inundated with bear pictures, and there are too many others out there for this one to matter.

It could be that viewers dismiss it as a trained or captive bear, as if an unsnarling and relaxed bear is somehow less "wild."  Frankly, I couldn't tell you. To me, it simply a lovely face, with an almost perfect background. What's not to like?

 

Nikon F100 film camera, with Nikkor 300mm f2.8 lens - I think

Life, Color, Drama, Reality .... No Digital Manipulation

 

 

Kevin will be serving as the National Geographic photo lecturer later this year aboard the "National Geographic Explorer".

November 2010 :  South Georgia and Antarctica.  For more information, click here.