Together, a family in the woods.
(Yes, I have shared this one before, but if the image fits, I’m going with it 😀 )
Together, a parent was never too far away.
Together, an “ode” to love.
(true damselfly and dragonfly fans will get it ;-))
Jeff Sinon Photography
Nature Through The Lens
Jeff Sinon Photography 
These are beautiful images, beautifully shot.
Thank you so much, you are too kind.
mother…
Just as good as usual Jeff!
Thanks Jude, that’s always nice to hear.
🙂 Love them all, but my favourite is a bear family :). Amazing work Jeff. How close were you to the bears?
Too close! But not on purpose believe me. 50 to 75 feet max.
I was camping and had just returned to my site after a mornings shooting. I was looking at my maps trying to decide where to go fishing until evening shooting light, and I heard a noise. When I looked up I thought, “Holy Crap!” Who hasn’t heard the stories of how protective a mother bear can be? I was torn between changing from the wide angle lens I had been using, to my 70-200, or getting the hell out of there. You can see which decision I went with 😉 The mother seemed to be un-bothered by my presence and actually went back to sleep not long after this shot. I did keep sending “happy thoughts” to the cubs though. I knew that one sign of distress from them and I was going to get the beating of my life courtesy of mom.
I can’t stress enough that I would NOT have gotten this close to a mother bear and her cubs on purpose. I also don’t recommend it to others either, for the safety of the bear. Yes I did say safety of the bear. In my opinion, if a person is dumb enough to get too close to a bear, or any other wild animal, just to get a photo, they deserve what they get. But the bear would likely end up paying the ultimate price and be shot. End of sermon!
Wow, you were lucky in so many ways! really envious x
Thanks Anna. The bears in particular were a case of being in the right place at the right time.
😀 awww, you are harmless and they knew that!! I agree with you Jeff, it would have been foolish to risk your life for the shot. You were lucky!
Once I realized they were pretty settled I did take a few steps closer. I think the bears were somewhat habituated to people, and very adept at raiding unattended campsites.
That night was the worst night I’ve ever spent camping though. In certain parts of the White Mountains bears are fairly common, so I’ve always known they are there. I’ve even heard them lurking in the dark waiting to come into a campsite for a free meal. But actually seeing just how close they were, and then hearing them at night while I was trying to go to sleep was a little nerve wracking. The fact I was comping by myself did not help! :-O
It works now JEFF 😀
Yea Me! I am a wordpress God!
Be quite, let me live in my delusion just a little bit longer 😛
I don’t want you to lose your illusion 😀 On the contrary, I need your talents as I plan to benefit from them 😉
You don’t beat around the bush do you? I like it! 😀
Beautiful images – my favourite being the one with the dragonfly.
Thanks Coline, it is still my favorite damselfly photo and don’t think I haven’t tried to top it in the four years since I took this one 🙂
Beautiful family photos 😀
Ooooh, I love baby animals. That loon is adorable!! Great photos as usual. 🙂
Thank you, Cindy. As usual 😉
The last image is SUPERB!
Thanks Lucy! It’s an oldy (if you consider 4 years old) but a goody. It is still my favorite dragonfly / damselfly image. And I’ve been trying to top it, or at least equal it, ever since I made it. 😀
These are some wonderful pictures. Last one is my favorite. Great post Jeff. 🙂
Thanks Arindam! I’m not sure what it is, but people seem to really like dragonflies and damselflies, me included!
These are beautiful! The one of the damselfly is so perfectly captured!
Thank you very much!
I’ll go straight to my favorite: dragonfly / damselfly image. My one comment would be for closer cropping from the top to see if you achieve a little more visible impact of your subjects.
Thanks for the suggestion Rick. I can always count on you to offer up a great tip or two. The critique is always welcome!
Stunning photos i love your interpretation for this week theme .
Thank you Jake 🙂
Wonderful execution in the theme. Those flies are really together (and it always appears so sci-fi alien to me). And totally agree about the bear. Thanks for sharing.
Yea, some critters have no shame. I told them to get a room, but they wouldn’t listen 🙂
3 great shots!
Thanks! 🙂
Very nice photos. Totally agree with what you say about not getting to close to wild animals just to get a photo.
Thank you, and I’m glad you agree. Even though I used to be a hunter, but have since given it up to “hunt” with my camera, the idea that the bear would likely have been shot if I was stupid enough to have gotten too close does not sit well with me at all. Unfortunately too many people would blame the bear in a case like that.
Jeff – they are all wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
~Anne
Thank you Anne! Still lovin’ your zebras!
http://annefreemanimages.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/weekly-photo-challenge-together-zebra-mother-child/
WOW – I just read your encounter with the bear. I was going to ask how you managed that shot. Now, I know. Good job on the photo taking. It’s beautiful. I stopped camping when we had bears rummage through our provisions when we forgot to bring them into our camper. It was at the Grand Canyon. I harrowing experience. They growl preety loud. I left the wilderness behind after that trip.
Well …. thanks for posting this one. It brought back some interesting memories.
Toodles,
Isadora
I’m just the opposite, I can’t wait to go back 😀 Of course if my wife comes along this time she wants to rent a cabin instead of staying in our tent. I just can’t figure out why 😉
What gorgeous shots!! Impeccable clarity, great choices for the challenge!
Thank you very much Bonnie!
Wow! That was brave of you Jeff! Love the dragonflies as well!
Brave or stupid? The jury hasn’t reached a verdict yet
🙂
I’ve had a very lovely trip through some of your posts!! Love your blog and I LOVE the bears!
Thank you very much, it always makes me happy to receive such a nice compliment.
The bears were awesome, a little scary being as close as I was, but still awesome. The fact that Mom allowed me to be this close was a wonderful experience.
I’m really surprised that she did, but wow!, what a payoff.
Since they were right across the stream from my campsite, I think she was just waiting me out and hoping I would leave my food behind when I went out for the day. 🙂
hahahaha! I think you’re probably right 🙂
Hi Jeff – seeing as there hasn’t been an official weekly photo challenge this week, I’m stepping up and throwing down a challenge for anyone who’s interested. http://wheresmybackpack.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/reflections/ Join in – the more the merrier. xxx
Sounds like fun, let me look and see what I have 🙂
Great, looking forward to seeing what you rustle up!