Driving along skyline drive in the late afternoon after a full day of high winds and rain, the weather began to clear. The road winds in and around the mountains with sweeping landscapes filled with autumn colored forests and clouds misting over the mountainside.
It was time to return to the Big Meadows Lodge for a social with the hiking group I was traveling with. Running a little late I was trying my best to not get distracted along the way. But then, all of a sudden something big, black and furry was scurrying over the stone wall.
Wait a minute…could it be? Is it possible? YES !! It’s a beautiful black bear that had run off into the forest. Coming to a screeching halt and quickly grabbing my primed and ready-to-go camera with 500mm lens attached, I leaned against the stone wall and found him tucked in the underbrush.
It was tough to focus on him with all the small branches in front of him, so for some crazy reason I thought I could actually see clearly and went onto manual focus and dialed it in. Seems I was off the mark. I would have been better selecting just the single center focus point and set it on one shot focus mode and I would have gotten more in focus images like this first one.
But truly, I didn’t care as I was doing the Happy Bear Dance. In fact, the Happy Bear Dance went on all night. And this was only one of the many highlights of my short trip to the Shenandoah mountains this week.
The American Black Bear is the only bear species found in Shenandoah National Park, and they have found a safe haven within the park. Populations have improved over the past few decades and can number in the several hundred depending on weather and foraging conditions.
Now I’m off to do the Happy Bear Dance again. Still flying on cloud nine with this find.
Categories: Shenandoah, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
I know that “Happy Dance” feeling, Emily. It happened to me several weeks ago when I was faced with a similar situation trying to photograph a Bobcat. I locked that single focus point on his face and got lucky. Love your photos. I think you got them nailed pretty good. Hope to photograph a Black Bear on an upcoming trip to the Big Bend National Park this winter.
That would be awesome and I know you’ll certainly be doing the Happy Bear Dance in Big Bend. That will be a fantastic trip, and I envy you being able to get there.
Now all we need is a Happy Bobcat dance for you. 🙂
Oh, I forgot to tell you. I really did the Bobcat happy dance. 🙂
Haha, spotting a bear and photographying him is not that easy, and not that safe around here. But we only have a few brown bears. And maybe no dancing bears.
Isn’t that the truth. Luckily these bears are so used to tourists they don’t panic. I bet you do have dancing bears through. 🙂
Good for you!!!…
“Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities…”! 😉
LOVE IT !!! Thanks Judy for the happy start of the morning. Bare necessities..bare necessities
Fabulous captures, I have done that big ‘panic’ thing with my settings so many times ha. You have managed to get some great shots.
Thanks Jo, as you know practice and lots of shots gets the one that we want right? Thank you so much.
Love the ‘Happy Bear Dance’. 🙂 You got some amazing shots of this beautiful bear. Congratulation, Emily.
It really made my year Sylvia. Still doing the Happy Bear Dance. 🙂
Wow, amazing to see and perfect shots! Glad you were at a distance, he kind of noticed – don’t you think!
He totally noticed me and wondered if I would leave so he could go about his business. He finally quietly sauntered off. It was such a wonderful moment Mary, wish you could have been there.
I think in the circumstances you did well. There are times when I long for my old Olympus and a Vivitar telezoom I had. DSLR and auto-focus lenses are great, I love my Canon kit, BUT SOMETIMES I just wonder……………..
LOL ! It’s all about magic when it comes down to it, doesn’t it? Thanks for the visit and wonderful to meet you. Bella
What an amazing experience! You’re so brave!
I wasn’t in the least bit concerned. He was more scared of me than I was of him. In Shenandoah, the wildlife are really used to the tourists.
Fantastic! Amazing shots Emily. Bet you are glad you had the telephoto with you – you wouldn’t want to get much closer with a 50 🙂
You know that’s right – I love my 500mm… It’s my ‘baby.’
Wow! How exciting for you! I know I would have had a stroke right on the spot and got zero pics if I ever saw an amazing animal like this. Glad you came back with terrific shots!
LOL ! Now that is too funny Phil. With all of your experience with the gators, this one would have been a piece of cake for you. 🙂 Thanks and great to see you.
Love bears and love learning more about bears in the wild 🙂 Great Captures – Happy Day!
That’s it, I need a 500!
Great job & Good eye(s)!!! I know the settings panic too. It’s a tricky moment because you want to get your camera right and yet you also don’t want to miss the moment all together. But you captured it for sure. I think, for me at least (much more amateur), it’s a miracle to have gotten any cool, clear shots of such a special creature. So cool, and I like how he’s (she?) is looking right at you. Don’t you wish you could know what they were thinking? “I swear, if you don’t get outta here in 5, 4, 3, 2…” or is it “what’s going on? What’s she doing? Is she coming over here? I’m gonna run, I’ll do it…”
Thanks for sharing.
I laughed so hard and outloud when I read the first line your comment. Of course I had to share it with hubby.
You know that bear was thing…damn..another tourist. Why don’t they leave me alone. Sigh..guess I’m the one that’s got to move.
HA! That’s good cuz I so mean it. I’ve got an expensive Christmas Wish list…lol.
I believe the bear was thinking that for sure. That’s probably more irritating for them than the collars on the deer! If I were a bear I’d probably have a little fun and run after some people every once in a while. Not anything prolonged just a quick sprint in their direction, then back to my berries. 😉
I loved these .I miss Skyline Drive.