The Gaze
After sneaking forward and becoming comfortable, they began to play by running back and forth, stopping momentarily each time....
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After sneaking forward and becoming comfortable, they began to play by running back and forth, stopping momentarily each time.
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Jul, 2015Views
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Lucky 3 Award
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Superb Composition
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reflectionsbyrenee
July 12, 2015
this is wonderful I exciting to be there to get these photographs, bravo to you.. I would love to see a copy of this cropped in around the Kits face
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I was making my weekly visit to a fox den I've been visiting for about 3 years now. During a certain time of year at what almost seems like scheduled showings, fox kits and adults alike are out hunting and playing along the side of the road and walking paths. The foxes in the area are generally pretty brave thanks to tourists that will go through the area and feed them (a huge no-no). I've found that the more time you spend around them the more they will trust you, as long as you don't pose a threat to them.Time
The foxes tend to come out of hiding to explore and play around dusk. This photo was taken around 7:30pm, during the height of their play time. In the foreground you can see one of this guys siblings. I had laid down in the grass and played a version of 'hide and seek' with them. Mainly me hiding behind m y camera. They would slowly stalk ahead towards me, I would pounce and then they would run off and start the cycle over.Lighting
I'm honestly not a huge flash person, though that probably comes from not being all too familiar with it still. Typically, I'll either wait for the ideal time of day when the light is just right or use a reflector to get the light just where I want it. This photo specifically I had the sun behind me at just the right angle to light up his little face.Equipment
My main camera is my trusty Nikon D3200, and typically my go to lens when shooting anything is a 55mm-300mm lens. That said, this was taken at 50mm using the natural tripod (elbows on the ground). Have to get down and dirty sometimes for the shot right?Inspiration
I have a long time love of foxes. From how playful and shy they are to how beautiful the variations of their fur patterns are. Not to mention the adorable sounds they make! I could spend an entire day from sun up to sun down watching them. This day specifically, there were three kits out playing in the grass stalking and pouncing on each other. Having them familiar enough with me I was confident (and cautious) I could get close enough to the action to get some entertaining shots.Editing
I always shoot RAW, the freedom of being able to have complete creative control after words lets me focus on framing and shooting. Then when I get home I'll import all the images into Lightroom and adjustments and edits to get the final result. I'll always adjust the basics, and when needed I'll go in with a touch up brush to lighten shadows or make certain things pop just a bit more.In my camera bag
My camera bag will always have my D3200, 55-300 lens, and the kit lens that came with my camera, the 18-55. Extra cards are always in there as well, though in the time that I've been shooting digital, I can't recall having to grab one of the others. A small portable tripod and reflector get strapped to either side, and my battery charger makes the trek no matter where I go. Generally I like to be prepared for anything possible in as small and light a footprint as possible.Feedback
To anyone else that is wanting to accomplish similar results, my biggest and best advice is to have patience! Nature is unpredictable, and sometimes takes a lot of patience and persistence to get what you want. Sometimes, if you wait long enough, you may be rewarded with little surprises and beautiful candid photos. I've been fortunate enough on a number of occasions to have this happen.
