Red Fox mousing

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 3, 20112,167 views23 comments

I think this will forever be one of my 'the shot that got away' images!

Having an fantastic time here in Yellowstone with fellow member Rene De Heer. It was -36f a couple of days ago and when saw a fox hunting for mice, that we had seen on our first day, and after following him far off out in the distance, he suddenly appeared right up close to our position. We barely had time to compose ourselves before the fox sprang in to action, diving up in to the air before going head first in to the snow to catch a mouse that was underneath. Unfortunately The fox jumped almost right out of my frame, as it was so close to us and I was using a D7000 with my 600mm. But I caught the downward dive. This is full frame height wise, but I had to crop to portrait due to the framing. It's not sharp enough as the shutter was only 1/500 and he was moving through the air very fast. It's also not blurred enough to show the movement, so all in all doesn't quite work.

I didn't get the shot and the fox didn't get the mouse. So this dive was a missed opportunity for both of us lol

Processed on my MacBook Pro, so probably doesn't look very good. I hate doing editing on laptop screens, so hardly touched this. WIll look at it properly when we get back to the UK.

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 3, 2011 at 10:44 PM

Richard: While this may be a near miss it is still a pretty spectacular capture. The light was very much in your favor and the color in the fox is superb. 1.95 thumbs up

>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Marshik on February 3, 2011 at 11:20 PM

Thats why I love Yellowstone, you'll just have to go back lookin' for the mid air mousing shot next year. I think I'm on 8 consecutive annual trips.

While your calling it almost, it's one of the best mousing shots I've ever seen in terms of impact.

Wish I was there!

Registered on February 1, 2011, 10 Posts, 103 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on February 4, 2011 at 12:03 AM

A remarkable shot, even if it's not perfect. I'm still waiting to even see one mousing at a relatively close distance. The proximity, profile and downward action are all fantastic here. Kudos, Richard.

I'm arriving tomorrow and will be there for the next week. Perhaps we'll cross paths.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 4, 2011 at 4:15 AM

WOW!!! I'll take it too! Sweet photo Richard! Great body position and intense look on it's face.

I'll be out there next week, your photo has made me even more eager for this trip to begin.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on February 4, 2011 at 7:49 AM

It seems you missed a spectacular opportunity, I just love the dynamics and body language here!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on February 4, 2011 at 12:07 PM

Wow, this is very spectacular Richard, what a jump!

A real pity it is not sharp enough (nor blurred enough). Apart from a too slow SS it seems to be the focus is more on the tail than the head also (front focus). Still a cool image. Thanks for sharing and good luck in trying to get better 'mousing' shots.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on February 4, 2011 at 12:20 PM

Awesome timing, simply perfect. Great work Richard.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Imprevento on February 4, 2011 at 2:27 PM

I hope I have missed opportunities this. Yellowstone is amazing in the Winter. I'm not one of the Pro's that post on NPN, but I don't think it could work much better. Amazing capture Richard.

Registered on September 11, 2010, 29 Posts, 78 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 4, 2011 at 4:47 PM

The pose and the color are fabulous. I also like the crop. In this post, the tail does look sharp. Sorry you're so far away that it will be hard to get back and try again.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Peters on February 4, 2011 at 7:44 PM

Thanks for the comments all :)

I think the tail is sharp because it kind of held it in place briefly, if that makes sense. Because the images before the leap and after are all fine, so I think the tail stayed in position briefly during the turning point for coming back down in to the dive. I think...lol

Registered on December 22, 2005, 28 Posts, 126 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on February 5, 2011 at 11:40 PM

Wow, this is a action shot. Still a very good job for the conditions.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 6, 2011 at 8:35 AM

Hi Richard,

Well, dramatic action (and huge style points awarded to the subject!) and while I'd like to say that the sharpness isn't a problem at all, I have to admit that if the image was mine I'd be feeling exactly as you are (a very near miss of an very unique event). That being said - I can see many uses for this image as is and it would CERTAINLY impress a lot of folks! I wouldn't say all is lost on this one...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 6, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Excellent! My monitor must not have very good resolution because the sharpness looks quite fine to me. I doubt if any magazine editor would refuse to publish such a fine shot because it is a teeny bit OOF. It would be nice to see a large version of this shot. Did you get a shot of the fox with his head in the snow? That would have made an interesting shot IMO.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on February 6, 2011 at 1:35 PM

Great timing and action! Like the blue in the snow as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on February 7, 2011 at 1:02 PM

As others have stated, this is a FANTASTIC action shot! The body position is incredible and the rich colors of his coat are wonderful.

You said you cropped this due to framing considerations, but it feels just a little tight to me. I'm curious if you could add a little back on the sides. Also, to my eye, the blue tones in the snow are little strong - although the foreground snow looks pretty natural. Anyway, this is a stunning image that is worth working on. It is eye-popping as posted, so any adjustments you make will only make it better.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Peters on February 7, 2011 at 8:21 PM

Thanks all.

Jeff, the right of the frame is the right of the frame, so there isn't anything to add back in unfortunately. I literally just cropped to portrait using the full height and the right side framing of the original. The blue probably is out a little (it was in the shade in the background) but I haven't really processed properly as I'm still away and only on the laptop. Will have a proper crack at it when I'm back in the UK

Thanks again

Registered on December 22, 2005, 28 Posts, 126 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 9, 2011 at 3:31 PM

Congrats on the nice WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on February 9, 2011 at 4:47 PM

WOW! This is an awesome shot! I've watched coyotes do this near our home, but am still hunting for my first fox to photograph. I love their colours. My dad and I had a few of those "ones that got away" pictures this fall during the elk rut. I know it's not perfect, but this is still an incredible picture. It makes me want to go to Yellowstone right now! We're not going until May. Have fun while you're there!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on February 10, 2011 at 7:16 AM

Awesome shot - when used small and with some extra sharpness added this will work great. The larger, the more unfortunate the lack of sharpness becomes.

I've got plenty of shots that lack critical sharpness at medium to large magnification, but that look great when used small. Most nature photographers are obsessed with sharpness, but there is no need to throw a good image away when it's not hypersharp. This is a good example of that.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on February 10, 2011 at 10:02 PM

Stunning

; simply stunning Richard!

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on February 11, 2011 at 9:09 AM

Magnificent, flawless picture of an exciting moment in the life of a Red Fox. I wish it were mine.

'Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on February 12, 2011 at 5:43 PM

Great capture! It looks to me as if your fox is trying to reach the ground while floating in zero gravity

. Perfect sharpness is overrated anyway

Congrats on the WP

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Barrie Courtenay on February 23, 2011 at 1:24 PM

Could possibly win the countryfile competition Richard,sorry late with coment missed this somehow,brilliant shot

Registered on July 11, 2005, 12 Posts, 98 Comments