larryhitchens

Red Fox Male Portrait

A Red Fox Male sitting directly (about 35 feet) in front of me what an opportunity!!!

A Red Fox Male sitting directly (about 35 feet) in front of me what an opportunity!!!
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Canon EOS 7D

settings

Aperture f/4 ISO 200 Shutter 1/250 Focal Length 600/1

upload_date

Nov, 2015

Views

252

Likes

+40

Awards

Action Award

Zenith Award

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Legendary Award

Member Selection Award

Top Choice

Superb Composition

Outstanding Creativity

Absolute Masterpiece

Peer Award

Magnificent Capture

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Smyrna, Delaware. The refuge was founded in 1937 and consists of over 15,000 acres its along the Atlantic Flyway which makes it a great place to view migratory and wintering waterfowl. There is also a small Red Fox population year around.

Time

Image was taken late afternoon around 3PM this was in the winter which is the best time to photograph the Red Fox since their coats are usually full and their color is nice.

Lighting

Lighting is always a high priority, anytime you have black and white objects in the same photograph never rely on your cameras automatic settings, it will give you an "average" and your colors will not be totally accurate. There was snow on the ground which was a blessing and a curse at the same time as it made for good bright light but also all that white had to be compensated for and stopped down to get a good photograph.

Equipment

This shot was taken with a Canon Mark IV Camera, a Canon 600mm F4.0 IS Lens

Inspiration

Although Owls are my favorite subject, Red Foxes are a close second, I do however limit my search for them during the winter months when they are most photogenic. This is a male, obviously in his prime taken in the winter when his coat was full and beautifully colored.

Editing

Post-processing---The shot was cropped and sharpened up a bit in Photoshop I also "Lassoed " the eyes and lightened them up a little.

In my camera bag

What I carry with me depends on where I'm shooting. I shoot from my SUV a lot it makes an excellent blind and there I have everything including the kitchen sink LOL, If I'm on foot or wading through some swampy area looking for my favorite subject, Owls I always have a good tripod with a wimberley head, a camera with at least 18MP and my 600mm lens, a 70-200 lens, a 1.4 teleconverter, extra cards, a flash and extra batteries.

Feedback

Patience, Patience, Patience. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have sat waiting for my subject to appear . I sat for this fox shot for two hours before he came out of his den sitting crouched in a ditch during the winter. Remaining perfectly still as I could, the fox which is ALWAYS very cautious would walk a few steps in my direction and stop as if to see if I was going to move or if I was just an inanimate object in the ditch. Looking for Red Foxes in the winter months is best when their coats are full and like the fox in this photo they will "fluff" out their fur to insulate themselves from the cold which makes for a nice shot. When I sell my work at festivals I love it when someone comes to my booth looks at the Fox shot and says "Boy, you were lucky to get that shot" I just agree all the while remembering the two hours sitting in that ditch shivering with snow on the ground in winter trying to be perfectly still, Yeah I sure was Lucky, LOL Larry Hitchens www.hitchensphotography.com hitch@goeaston.net

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larryhitchens

larryhitchens

Red Fox Male Portrait

A Red Fox Male sitting directly (about 35 feet) in front of me what an opportunity!!!

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow larryhitchens

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