** Friend or Foe?

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** Friend or Foe?
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Hutton (aido) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-14
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D2X, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): BEST OF: Foxes, Maned wolves, & Jackals 1, Red Foxes, Animals of the BWC [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-05-25 11:08
Viewed: 1495
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). This is a male Fox, orphaned as a cub and taken in and hand-reared by the kind folks at the British Wildlife Centre in Lingfield, Surrey.

I don’t like flash too much for animal portraits, I think it often takes the life out of an image. I didn’t have much choice here though as the day was dull and overcast, so I dropped 2 stops on the flash which helps with flash shadows and still allows some natural lighting and shadows to remain. Just the way I prefer it, nothing more.

Shutter Speed: 1/200
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
F-Stop: f/8.0
Aperture Value: f/8
Max Aperture Value: f/6.3
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Focal Length: 420.0mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33
Flash Exposure Bias: -2.0

Red foxes have become the most widespread dogs in the wild, having overtaken grey wolves to the top spot. They are often included in folklore, with a reputation for being sly and cunning.

Subspecies
Around 40 subspecies.

Life span
In the wild, red foxes seldom live for more than seven years, but in captivity they live for up to 15 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 50-90cm, Tail length: 30-50cm, Standing height: 35-45cm, Weight: 6-10kg.

Physical Description
As the name suggests, red foxes have red/brown fur. This can vary in coloration and can give rise to black, silver or cross morphs. The long, bushy tail (brush) is often tipped with white fur, and the backs of the ears are black, as are part of the legs. They have slender muzzles, with white fur on the top lip, and some individuals have black tear marks. The chest is often white.

Distribution
Red foxes are widespread across Europe (but absent from Iceland: must be the weather!), Canada, USA, and in Asia from Japan to Indochina. They were introduced to Australia.

Habitat
They are typically found in woodland and open country, but their presence in urban areas is increasing.

Diet
Red foxes are opportunist feeders and eat insects, earthworms, fruit, berries, wild birds, small mammals and scraps left by humans.

Notes courtesy of The Beeb.
MojoUK, thistle, SkyF, elefantino, ramthakur, Zeno, marhowie, loot, klemmg, eruyanik, deud, hekcik, SunToucher, lovenature, dew77, peter_stoeckl, thor68, scottevers7, ellis49, coasties, saguzar, Aramok, firelord, Roynsam, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Alex99: Zdrastvuy!aido 1 08-07 20:48
To Aramok: Cow Parsleyaido 1 06-06 16:49
To scottevers7: Hey Scottaido 2 05-27 23:28
To ellis49: Hi Gertaido 1 05-27 09:46
To loot: Hi Lootaido 1 05-27 05:26
To thor68: Back again :-)aido 1 05-26 12:45
To klemmg: Hi Gabiaido 1 05-26 04:47
To ramthakur: The Grand Scheme of Thingsaido 1 05-25 13:59
To MojoUK: Thanks Markaido 3 05-25 12:06
To Scott: 420mmaido 1 05-25 11:38
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 287] (1366)
  • [2006-05-25 11:15]
  • [+]

Adrian,

Nice work, I use the same lens, how far ... what focal length?
Nice crop..

TFS

Scott

  • Great 
  • cali Silver Star Critiquer [C: 32 W: 0 N: 0] (316)
  • [2006-05-25 11:29]

J'aime beaucoup. Le sujet est très net et les couleurs sont magnifiques. Merci beaucoup.

Hi Adrian, I see your back from vampland, I trust you had a good trip?

Nice shooting my friend, I like the way you have framed the Foxes face with the foreground vegitation. I wouldn't have guessed this was with fill flash unless you had mentioned it so your efforts were spot on I would say.

Are you up for a trip somewhere over the weekend?

Regards,

Mark.

Welcome back! ;-)
Good to see a new post from you Adrian!
This is a lovely picture and very interesting too. Not an usuall portrait because of all these plants in FG, but I think that's what I like in this shot most. That creates a great depth. The colours are another fantastic thing here. They look very natural and match really well. Another great element which I love here are the fox's eyes. They look quite striking and a bit cunning.
Overall, an exceptional post!
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2448 W: 207 N: 2034] (8111)
  • [2006-05-25 12:26]

Hello Adrian,
he seems as much focused on you, as you are on him. Beautiful POV and great eye contact. Light, sharpness and colors are beautiful.
Wonderful composition.
TFS..Sky

Great portrait, Adrian.
It looks very interesing in... somethind or somebody.
Great colors and details onthe eyes.
Andrea

Another lovely portrait of a red fox, Adrian.
The image is perfect in every respect; I like the way you have shot it behind the foliage. It looks natural.
This one looks so harmless and innocent I would hate the idea of considering it a foe to anyone. They have their place in the scheme of things, anyway, and who are we to grudge their right to live?

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 489 W: 0 N: 935] (7943)
  • [2006-05-25 13:22]

Hi adrian,

Very sharp photo. I like the colours and the look in the eyes.
Great photo.

regards,
Zeno.

Hello Adrian,
I think it's an excellent portrait. I like the way the face is framed with the green stems/small flowers..makes it special :)
Perfect light, color, and use of flash to fill...Great details and just the right amount of sharpness.
Very well done.

Wow, wonderful portrait, the complementary colours work beautifully, nice depth with the blurred stems in the FG and the nicely blurred BG that also nicely isolated the subject. The stems also serve to provide a natural frame. Lovely diagonal composition with the ears, snout, and stems providing the lines. The facial expression with the eyes cunningly half-closed gives it extra emotional impact. Looks as if it is stalking its prey, and so creates some tension.
Great post complete with a detailed note. Excellent!
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 0 N: 87] (7625)
  • [2006-05-25 19:10]

Hi Adrian
He is watching your movements very careful. Great shot and beautiful colours. Good sharpnes, details, DOF and POV.
Well done my friend

osse

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5677 W: 602 N: 3179] (8505)
  • [2006-05-25 20:13]
  • [2] [+]

Hi Stranger
Glad to see a post from you again. I know the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood' has a wolf as villain, but this sly looking red fox seems quite suitable for the role.
You have managed to capture this fox in a stunning pose, making eye contact, and giving all indication that he is perfectly aware of your every move. What I really find amazing is how you engineered what is normally considered to be a nit to actually work for you in this shot. I have looked at all the critiques and not one person complained about the vegetation that is in front of the animas face. To the contrary, everyone is rather impressed by it. I wonder how many TN photos have received critiques which addressed the fact that there is a grass blade, or a twig, or something distracting in front of the subject. In this photo it actually enhances the scene. Well done.
You made good use of the fill-in flash as well. It saturated the colours while it gave you the opportunity to push the f/stop for better DOF and details and still have a fast enough shutter speed to curtail any camera movement.
Truly great work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Adrian,
A bit of a late one last night (work not fun!!). Just time for a very quick visit.
Thanks for posting, well worth a big smiley.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 482 W: 2 N: 455] (2037)
  • [2006-05-26 4:07]

wowch! beautiful portrait! what a clever eyes! very nice ambiance. colors, focus are great. excellent work. tfs

Hi Adrian,

Wow, meeting of eye to eye... amazing shot.
Excellent composition and framing.
Great work and very well done!

TFS :-)
Norbert

Hi Adrian,
Excellent photo of the fox peeking through the grass. Makes it feel as if it is captured in its natural surounding. I realy love the lighting in this photo, it brings out te colors very good. Excellent sharpness and crop.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Adrian,
Nice closeup of this Red Fox. Colours and sharpness are great. AAA+++

Just a little north of were I live is a Red Fox facility that breeds, rescues, an re-introduces the Red Fox in our area. Janice

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-05-26 9:10]

Hello Adrian,
Wonderful capture.I liked POV,sharpness,details,expression on face and composition a lot.TFS....:-)

Great shot Adrian! This is absolutely fox glance! It looks very sneaky! Great moment here! Very different but amazing portrait, cause of the front green stems! btw, I didn't feel the flash here! Great use of flash too Thank you,
Ersin

Sorry, points later!

hi adrian, back again?! :-)
what a lovely fox portrait,
although the look is not so friendly, or is he tired?
i really like him sticking his nose through
the vegetation in front of hom and peeking
through the flowers.
wonderful job & take care, thor.

Excellent capture of this meadow dweller. DOF is chosen well which encapsulates the fox's face in the perfect focal plane which really brings attention to those mysterious eyes. :)

Hi Adrian,
A great pose as he peers thru the vegeatation. Your fill flash exposure looks great here. I totally agree with you on fill flash, but sometimes you have no choice. This looks totally natural to me. I wish I had taken it, and it was in my portfolio. Maybe it's my eyes, did you have to do ant PP on the snout area? If so, good job, If not, my eyes going bad.
Scott

Adrian,
marvellous wildlife capture. Looking very fresh and alive.
The fox half hidden in vegetations adds to the feeling of being in direct contact with the charming animal in its natural habitat.
Very appealing presentation.
Thank you! Best regards,
Peter

:)

Hi Adrian,
this looks it's taken in the wild and not in a wildlife center.
In the past I was an active hunter and have seen hundreds of foxes and this is what they use to look like, sneaking in the grass well hidden and looking for something good.
The POV and pose are great. The composition and details are very good. And well done with the fill-in flash.
Excellent work.

Hi Adrian

Very nice shot. Excellent light, sharp, clear details. Good colour and I love the eye contact. Nice work. :-)

Hello Adrian,
Excellent portrait, has good details and colors; I love specially the fox looking.
Well done friend!
Hernán

i lied You pictures;-)

Womderful shot there Adrian, managed to miss it whilst I was very busy at work. Glad I have found it now. Really like the way it is taken through cow parsley(?) and partially obscures the fox.

TFS

Emma

Hi Adrian

Well I think the fox is definitely our friend. I am certainly a friend to the fox anyway.
Really excellent shot here mate.
The fox really seems to be studying you.
Sharp focus and great P.O.V.
Thanks

Roy

Very well done. I like foxes. The expression in his eyes reflects the tittle of your photo ! Never had the chance to catch one. Lucky you!

Hi Adrian.
I see you are here. I am very glad. I am very glad also to see your funny fox shot. Pictured moment is great and cute. Fox surroundings are wonderful too as well as the POV. Very nice touching picture. Bravo and TFS.
Alexei.

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