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Buz Kiefer | all galleries >> Galleries >> Smoky Mountain Photos - Buz Kiefer > At the Wood's Edge
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At the Wood's Edge

I was going to answer Frank's comment below with a message but decided to post here so everyone would have a chance to hear the story of this shot.
Dick was driving and this bear was so close to the road we drove maybe 20 feet past him. He was moving slowly but generally in our direction so I left the door to the car open and began to shoot. Dick was on the other side of the car shooting so I was just a bit closer. Light was poor as we were in the shade of a huge white oak. Both of us were snapping away and the bear eventually moved within 15 feet. As I started for the car door, he stopped and sniffed the air several times. We both turned to see if a female was behind us. We saw nothing but he kept sniffing. Finally he turned and walked a few feet away. About that time, Dick noticed the female in the branches above us and two cubs were holding on to the trunk of the tree, We took a few more shots and left feeling very lucky.
Here's one of Dick's photos of this guy: http://www.pbase.com/richardr/image/103871616


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Frank Tran04-Aug-2017 21:10
Nice catch and capture. V+
Naomi 24-Jun-2009 13:34
Great shot, Buz. I've seen a few black bears in SNP, but never got close enough to get a good photo, and I'm not so sure that I want to, especially if it's a female with cubs!
Marco Valk01-Apr-2009 17:17
great shot and great encounter. v
Buz Kiefer23-Mar-2009 01:23
LOL. You weren't suppose to mention that part.
Richard Vance22-Mar-2009 23:01
That's pretty much the way I remember it except you left out the part about the bear clawing and ripping your shirt as you dived back into the car. ;)
Fine work, my intrepid friend,
Dick:)
Chris Spracklen22-Mar-2009 22:17
What a moment!
You took the opportunity well, Buz.
Best regards, Chris
Bryan Murahashi22-Mar-2009 01:57
Terrific capture of this wild bear.
shatterbug21-Mar-2009 06:21
95mm..gutsy shot! Great capture.
Frank Wilson21-Mar-2009 04:11
Buz . . . . get out of there!
Elaine (etfitz)21-Mar-2009 02:28
He looks big!
Char21-Mar-2009 02:13
Hi Buz,
Terrific capture! What an opportune moment. \/
Tom Munson21-Mar-2009 02:10
Great shot and find, Buz! Good job!
Jude Haase21-Mar-2009 00:48
Very nice catch Buz!
poetry66621-Mar-2009 00:12
Cracking shot of this bear here Buz. Great work my friend.BV
Matthew Mannell20-Mar-2009 23:11
Nice snap shot...kinda close for comfort!? Vote
Michel CORBOZ20-Mar-2009 22:47
Il (elle) a pas l'air commode !

great shot, Buz ! V
lou_rozensteins20-Mar-2009 22:28
Nice shot! That would be too close for me ..... well done. Voted.
Tomasz Dziubinski - Photography20-Mar-2009 22:24
Wow! Quite close I would say :)
Good shot, Vote.
Guest 20-Mar-2009 21:59
great capture, hope he didn't see you :) V
J. Scott Coile20-Mar-2009 21:21
Not sure 95mm is enough "comfort room" with that look ;-)
Gerard Koehl20-Mar-2009 17:31
Wow... fantastique. V
Johnny JAG20-Mar-2009 16:22
Great shot, provided you've got your running shoes on!
Johnny JAG20-Mar-2009 16:21
Great shot, provided you've got your running shoes on!
Naomi 20-Mar-2009 15:21
Great shot, Buz! V
marie-jose wolff20-Mar-2009 15:13
outstanding capture! V
Guest 20-Mar-2009 15:05
Very sharp in the face. And yes, it does look big.
Guest 20-Mar-2009 15:04
Very sharp in the face. And yes, it does look big.
Gayle P. Clement20-Mar-2009 13:54
That looks like a big one, Buz.
Richard Vance20-Mar-2009 12:49
I remember that big boy. Super exposure and sharpness under very difficult lighting conditions, not to mention the 'exciting' confrontation. Vote
Best regards,
Dick:)
Faye White20-Mar-2009 11:36
I love this! I would be shaking in my boots however...
fdt20-Mar-2009 11:28
Wow... Great catch. f