First Fox

[NorthernFocus]

This past week/weekend I had an opportunity to tag along on a goose hunt to Cold Bay at the south/west tip of the Alaska Peninsula. It's quite a forbidding place weather wise. For four days the wind never dropped below 25mph and got as high as 70mph and it rained to varying degrees pretty much the whole time. Not only was the light poor but you couldn't shoot photos upwind due to the horizontal rain. But it's all good.

Didn't do so well capturing waterfowl which was the intended subject matter. I'll post a few when I'm done culling. But I was excited to nab my first fox.

Nikon D4, 500mm VR, handheld
f/4 @ 500 mm, 1/2000, ISO 3200

We were driving back to the cabin for a break and saw this guy running across the tundra. Look how his eyes are squinted against the wind and rain. It was blowing about 40mph at the time.



We ran up the road and judged where he would be coming across and it worked out well. He was too close for the 500mm lens. Clipped his ears in most of the shots. Didn't have time/presence of mind to switch to vertical format.

[Mike Buckley]

Congratulations, Dan! It must have been an exhilarating experience! I especially like the two close-ups but the first one is better than a keeper.

[Stagecoach]

Dan,

Amazing captures, thanks for sharing.

[kaneohebud]

Hi Dan:
Great shot of the fox's face! Beautiful eyes.

I remember Cold Bay well. I used to shoot touch and goes in there back in my flying days in the 1960's.

[Donald]

You certainly nailed those close-ups, Dan. Well done.

Wonderful to see it running free in its natural environment.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful. Adore the close-ups!

[Digital]

Dan, very nice photos.


Bruce

[pharrael]

Very nice photos. The fox eyes at the second shot caught me! I also liked the raining drops. Gives me impression of a dirty and natural scenery. I am a beginner so here is just my impressions as a viewer.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. The little guy looked like he was hurrying home to get out of the horrible weather. But the fur must shed water pretty well because as bad as it was the fox didn't look very wet.

[Wavelength]

FOWF!!!! Great !!!!

[John 2]

Cracking Shots Dan. Great work.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Wow, stunning! The first close up is incredible. Just so beautiful and intimate. Amazing job.

[Paniaa]

Thank you Dan
These pics touched me at a very deep level, so much so that tears were close. Techniques, after all, are just a means to an end. Thank you again

[Ryan10]

I really enjoyed these. Thanks for sharing.

[gregj1763]

Amazing Dan, the first close up is a National geographic image if ever I saw one. Just brilliant

[Letrow]

Nice headshots with that 500mm. I can imagine this went too fast for careful adjustment to the vertical.

[Bobobird]

You are one lucky fox....

Glad you got something despite the conditions.

[Kaye Leggett]

Beautiful shots, well done for braving the weather

[NorthernFocus]

I thought this thread had run its course. Thanks for all the comments, folks. You can see in the second closeup that when he lifted his head the nose slipped out of my DOF. I never expected to get this close to this bugger and it happened so quickly that I didn't have time to make any adjustments. All there was time for was to put the focus point on his eye and fire a burst.

[jprzybyla]

Great captures and narrative... beautiful animal. I'm jealous.