Here is another early photograph. I thought it would be fun to highlight this one, given my previous post … yes this picture makes me laugh!  I made it as part of a short project I did at the Buffalo Zoo when I was a teenager. The bears and other larger animals seemed to have some nice outdoor habitats to hang out in as long as it wasn’t freezing cold. Many others did too, but not all. The remainder of the photographs I made are not so cheery. Thankfully, zoos have come a long way in the fifty or so years since I made these photographs!

Most of the pictures I made were indoors, but in this case I was walking outside. I either had my Nikkormat or possibly my Nikon F2 with a 50mm lens, along with a rarely used 135.  I’m trying hard to remember why I bought that lens …I’m sure I got it used for a good price … I’m also certain my teenage mind was convinced I just had to have it. I don’t think I made many pictures with it, but was really glad I had it with me that day to make this keeper!

As I was meandering along the pathways that crisscrossed the zoo’s outdoor landscape it began to snow with those big beautiful flakes you hear about but rarely seem to encounter. As I came across the outdoor bear habit the snow started to come down harder … and there in the distance he was … in all his relaxed splendor!!

It didn’t seem like he was going to move anytime soon, but the way he was sprawled on the edge of the manmade rock cliff, lounging around with one lag hanging over the edge and the other with its enormous paw pointing right at me made me scramble to remove the 50mm as quickly as possible and attach the 135 in its place!  As the flurries came down, I quickly framed up the scene, took a meter reading, set the aperture and shutter speed and made the picture. One content and happy bear.

Every time I walk by this picture it makes me smile, and sometimes I have a little chuckle when I remember the moment I saw him that snowy day.

Stay well,

Michael