For some reason, I overlooked this red fox (Vulpes vulpes) when I made my initial edit a year or so ago. Not sure if I just missed it, or if my tastes have changed. But I stumbled across it the other day when I was looking for something else, and I really like it. The slightly non-traditional composition, coupled with the cute expression on the Fox’s face really works. Unfortunately, the foxes at this location are gone – victims of habitat change, predation, disease, and, probably, stupid people.
I realize that the shot looks a tad dingy against the bright white background of the blog. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger size, against a black background, to get a better sense of the true tonal values.
I am woefully far behind in editing images from this very productive year in photography. For proof, look no further than these adorable fox kits that have been languishing in my processing que since late spring. My two visits to this red fox (Vulpes vulpes) den high in the rockies was one of the photographic highlights of my year. (Thanks to Jay and Kurt for sharing the den with me!) The kits at the den were adorable, and largely habituated to humans, so they were relatively easy to photograph. The only challenge was where the foxes made their den — in a space only a few feet wide between a berm and a chainlink fence. The only way to shoot the foxes was down the “valley” between the two. Getting an ideal light angle was impossible, so instead I tried to make the best use of the raking sidelight to advantage. It in a couple of cases, including the image above, it worked nicely.
This image illustrates just how little attention the foxes paid to people — this guy couldn’t keep his eyes open in the warm morning sun.
This is the same fox as the one in the image I posted a few months ago. The background is better on the original image, but it’s hard to resist the bright eyed and cocked head.
I visited the fox den twice, once in late may and again, about three weeks later. It is remarkable how quickly the foxes grew in that time. They also exhibited a great deal more independence and willingness to venture from the den site without a parent around.
Here are a few additional images from the shoot; be sure to click on the thumbnails for a larger view. If you’re reading this in an RSS reader or by e-mail, be sure to click through to the blog to see these images with the proper formatting.
Want to see even more fox images? Check out my fox collection.
Monochrome Fox Kit (Img# 100619_1005280)
For some reason I rarely make monochrome images deliberately, but I often stumble across a good monochrome candidate image while I’m doing something else. Certainly true in this case. This image is a doubly good candidate for monochrome – the fox pops from the background, and there’s a great range of tones in his face. Equally importantly, there are lots of funky colors in the background, which are slightly distracting when the image is in color. Converted to monochrome, those problems vanish.
I love shooting red foxes in the snow — their fur really pops against the white background, and fresh blanket of snow can simplify an otherwise bushy/busy background. Here are a couple of particularly good images from a recent trip to my fox spot. Remarkably, the fox above spent at least ten minutes laying in the snow watching me take his photograph.
This is my favorite fox composition – fox running toward the camera, seemingly intend on taking a bite out of the photographer.
I like the colorful, sunlit background on this image.
Red Fox in Snow (Image# 091227_1001417)
If this image wasn’t backlit it would be perfect. I wind up with more backlit fox images than I would expect, mostly because the foxes are reluctant to look toward the bring sun.
Snarling Red Fox in Snow (Image# 091227_1006380)
Finally, a mean looking fox.
I revisited my favorite fox place after a long hiatus. It was hit hard by the severe thunderstorm earlier this summer — trees down everywhere, and many fewer foxes. It was sobering to see the landscape so radically altered. On the bright side (pun not intended) the absence of trees should improve the photography by letting more light through. In any event, here are a couple of my favorite images from the trip. Click for a larger version.
The regulars in the open space can pick the foxes out by name. (Fortunately) I don’t spend quite that much time there, but I do recognize this badly scarred fox. He always seems to hang out in the same place on the trail. He was posing nicely until someone came by with their dog, then asked what we were photographing. Very frustrating.
To make this image, I desaturated every color but red and burned down the edges. Like it? Hate it? Post a comment.
I have posted a collection of red fox images. I hope to post some additional collections soon as I finish fleshing out the new site. Enjoy.
I stumbled across this image while I was searching for something else in my archive. I must have passed it over when I made my initial edit from the shoot, but on second review I decided I liked it enough to optimize it. This is the result. (As always, click on the image for a larger version).
Look for some more substantial, substantive posts soon.
A couple of days ago I received a note from Doug Rodda, an accomplished bird and wildlife photographer. He was visiting from out of town, and asked for suggestions about local photo opportunities. Since I was planning to shoot at my favorite fox spot, I invited him to join me. Frankly, the fox action was a little slow, but I managed to make a couple of keeper images, and I had a great time shooting with Doug.
This is my favorite image from the trip. I wish that I handn’t clipped the ears, but there was no other way to get the great “orange halo” from the foxes out of focus fur.
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Denver (finally) had its first appreciable snowfall of the year on Friday night, which meant that Saturday was a very good day for fox photography. As you will see, the foxes really “pop” against a snowy background, and the snow makes it much easier to simplify the fox images and minimize the visual clutter of their brushy habitat. Here are a few of the best images from this morning, plus a duck photo for good measure:
More Images after the jump
Continue reading Red Foxes and the First Snow of the Season
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