Journey to Churchill

I had gone to the Assiniboine Park Zoo last weekend with the hope of capturing some photos of the polar bears but there were no polar bears to be found much to the chagrin of the people who had turned up for Breakfast with the Bears. In fact the only animals I found active were the ringed seals.

This weekend I returned to the Journey to Churchill exhibit to see the polars. I wanted to spent some time with them after the passing of one their companions a week ago from a respiratory illness.

Found a couple outside in their outdoor pool and one bear inside in their large pool.

I particularly liked this image with the bear rising for a breathe of air with its face reflected above it in the water.

Nik detail extractor (25,6,6,normal)
silver efex pro2 low key2 (-8,8,0)

Nikon D7100
AF-S Nikkor 18-140m
f6.3 1/1000 32mm

Taken February 2, 2019.

Posted by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 02/03/19 21:08
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Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 02/03/19 21:09

I found out that the seals in the Journey to Churchill exhibit are rescue seals with various physical conditions as is the case with this fellow that is partially blind.


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 02/03/19 21:11

One of the two polar bears outside on this visit with the other bear in their outside pool and it was close to -20C air temperature.

CS5 auto contrast
Nik silver efex pro2 overexposed ev+1 (16,15,10)


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 02/03/19 21:11

ringed seals

CS5 auto contrast


Comments by Bruce Hunter on Tue, 02/05/19 04:21

I'm ashamed to admit that until I saw this photo , it never occurred
to me to question just how long a polar bear can hold his breath
under water... The answers ( from Bing.com ) range from one to two
minutes.


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Thu, 02/07/19 21:08

shot through overhead window... the size of those paws


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Thu, 02/07/19 21:09

ringed seal

CS5 auto contrast
Nik classical soft focus (1,20,50,0)


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Fri, 02/08/19 21:16

zoned right out waiting for the seals to make an appearance

Nik vignette: lens
silver efex pro2 low key1 (-14,35,0)


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Fri, 02/08/19 21:16

CS5 auto tone
Nik detail extractor
CS5 paint daubs


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sat, 02/09/19 20:11

CS5 auto contrast
Nik classical soft focus (3,20,90,50)


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sat, 02/09/19 20:12

ringed seal

CS5 auto contrast


Comments by S Roter on Sun, 02/10/19 14:07

You've done a great job avoiding glare and reflections excluding the
OP with the intentional reflection. Color balance must be difficult,
although I don't see any problems with what I see here. Not an easy
environment to shoot.