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I'll NEVER leave home without my monopod (D2H pics)

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Regit Young

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Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you... (all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon; Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs; bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox (European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!! Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema, on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
absolutely fantastic pics! consider yourself lucky to have seen the fox up close like that.
I wouldn't think they are as aggressive as lets say, a coyote.
 
Regit
Sound like a mastercard comerical
Photo of Black Shouldered Kite = 5.00
Close Encounter with Red Fox = 5.00
Having a monopod for protection = priceless

I think you did good got a great shot of a animal you never expected to encounter and you walked away almost unscratched!
Very nice photos by the way.
-Mike
 
Regit Young said:
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original
http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original.jpg

While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original
http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original.jpg

The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original
http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original.jpg

Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original
http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original.jpg

It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?
Click to expand...
just make sure your rabies and tetanus shots (if you've had them before) are still effective. the fox has probably gotten acclimated to humans and is fearless as far as being in their very close proximity.

as usual, your pics are very nice
Regit Young said:
And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
 
Regit,

These are outstanding! I have seen many fox as I grew up in the countryside in NE US. I only saw 1 when I had a camera with me and I couldn't get it out of my coat (it was near freexing tempatures) in time to get a shot off. But this one does seem to be a bit too friendly. Most of the fox around here run at the sight of a human.

The last shot is mezmerizing. Hard to believe you took it the same day as the first. Very well done!

--
Magick Michael
Trippin' The Light Creative
http://www.zhounder.com
 
Combine skill and patience and drive and a teeny-tiny bit o luck and you come up with this!



I'm so far behind you I can't eve see your dust.
Jarrell
 
Hi Regit,

First some nice shots!

Foxes are wild animals, however if they live in close proximedy to cities and people, they can become quite dependant upon people as a food source. I'm NOT suggesting they eat or attack people, BUT they eat garbage, and often foolish individuals will feed them out because they are cute .

I say foolish, because feeding wild animals is a good way to get wild animals killed, or change their behavior. As they become depepend upon people, and less afraid, they will seek out people, and some will shoot the animals or report them and have them destroyed, at least in the USA.

Bears are one of the biggest problems in the USA. Some people here believe they are like the cartoon (Yogi bear) and think that they can just walk up to them, or feed them. If a bear in the USA has two to three complaints about it, it will be put to death. Complaints can be someone calling and reporting it's been in the trash.

Living in the Mountains of CO, we have a Conifer Mtn. resident Black Bear, that has little fear of people. It's walked within a few feet of me... that was a bit scary, and I wish I'd had a camera. It rather ignored both myself and my wife as it lumbered across my driveway about 5ft from us. Living in Bear country we just accept them, and try our best not to leave garbage cans where the bear can get at them.

As for your safety with a fox, obviously this fox was not scared of people which indicates that it has had intereaction, and no longer fears us. We are NOT on the Foxy food chain, so do not fear if a fox comes close. It just wants food...the driving force behiind wildlife! Shooo it away, or whatever. Do NOT feed it.

Unless the fox has rabies, it can do you little harm. If it does have rabbies, then it's more dangerous, but still hardly lethal. Symptoms of Rabid animals are not hard to determine, look it up. This fox IOM looks quite healthy. Remember we are MUCH bigger than they are, so there is not much to worry about if you use good judgement.

I noticed your fear did NOT prevent you from taking photos (:->

Ron
 
Your pictures are stunning to say the least. Interestingly enough my little Sheltie and I were on our nature trail walk a few days ago and a grey fox came within 7 ft of us as he crossed the trail. He didn't even look startled, unlike my dog and I.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.

Gordon
 
I've seen polenty of foxes in suburban Melbourne so can't see why Perth would be any different! Great captures though, looks like you were blessed with some glorious light.

Are you using different JPG settings now since you got the D2h? You're getting some gradient banding in the smooth backgrounds - looks like an issue with more compressed jpgs.

BTW which lens did the filter save sacrificing itself.

Regit Young wrote:
--
-marek

http://www.iso1600.neostrada.pl/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298
 
I promised photographic shred ripping last time right?
  1. 1 Really sharp Kite, i think shooting from below is hurting the composition though as is the very central placement. Could ytou have included more branches (say vertical) to provide some framing?
  1. 2 clipped the ear and paws. I especailyl miss not seeing the paws... don't know why. I think this could have easily been a FF shot - ie whole fox in frame as the head is in a nice rule of thirds position. I ugess you may have been limited by lens choice though.
  1. 3 Beautiful close up. Grass is mildly distractingf - maybe you could desaturate the green channel and cheat a little?
  1. 4 love the feel and 'hairlight' provided buy the sun. the 70-200 has shown a fair bit of flare here but remained nice and sharp. this is a good thing. not crash hot about the composition - seems to havbe a similar problem to #1
What monopod are you using - I can't afford a nice carbon tripod at the moment. But Ithink a monopod may be quite useful...would suit me HATING setting up something bulky and being locked down to one spot (or at least limited) Anything you could recommend?

PS: foxes are harmless unless they;re rabid. Anyway you couldn't have beebn that scared if you managed to get shots off!
Regit Young said:
http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original

Click to expand...
--
-marek

http://www.iso1600.neostrada.pl/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298
 
Regit Young said:
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
I Regit,

Amazing shots. I could not tell you how to react in such a case. It looks like you did very well w/o any advice. In an emergency you could use your monopod as a weapon for protection, you never know what will come out of the bushes next time.....
Regards,
Steve Provisor
 
Perfect !!!Doesn't mather if arms and legs are bleeding as long as you produce these shots.
Hans
Regit Young said:
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
--
hans
 
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