Grizzly bear in autumn tundra

Grizzly bear on the autumn colored tundra in Highway pass in Denali National Park, Alaska. Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm f/4L IS w/1.4x, (700mm), 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200

The colors in the high country of Denali National Park last week were stunning. The grizzly bear photography was less stunning, simply due to lack of opportunity on my short visit. However, this is the one scene I photographed for just a few minutes. In spite of the harsh light, the colors revive the image and give it some sparkle. As is often the case in wildlife photography, getting a subject in just the right spot is a challenge, and all the more so with Denali Park bears since when they are close for photography, one needs to be inside a vehicle and movement is thereby restricted. This bear is very well fed with a healthy layer of fat and a thick coat of fur that it will carry into winter hibernation.