Fox Photography
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Foxes are fairly common in Colorado, particularly red foxes. Yet, they have typically evaded my camera. Up until this week, I only had a few decent fox photos.
When I began working with Far Country Press on an Impression Book of Colorado Wildlife, they wanted high quality fox images, so I called my photography friend Paul J. Marcotte. Paul is a master fox photographer, his favorite animal to capture with his camera. Together we collaborated on the Colorado Wildlife Impressions book with a variety of species contributed by each of us, particularly Paul’s foxes (expected release date August 2026).
Since then, I have both admired Paul’s exceptional photograph, and he has guided me in my wild canine pursuit. Paul has captured red fox and their kits, playful and full of energy. His silver fox images are the beautiful black variation of a red fox. So impressive are his captures of the small swift fox and kits taken on the Colorado prairie. Far Country Press included several of his incredible fox images in the impressions book.
I did submit a couple of cross fox images, a rare and striking color variation of the red fox. Cross foxes have a distinctive dark stripe that runs down their back and intersects with another stripe across their shoulders, forming a dark "cross" pattern. Unfortunately, my cross fox pictures ended up on the editing room floor.
So, when I learned about a family of red foxes, I was out before down with dreams of capturing special fox images. When I arrived at the location, the sun was just peaking up as I drove searching for animal movement. Back and forth I went, not seeing anything. Then, as it often does, it happened.
Wildlife blends so well into their natural setting. An animal can be right in front of you and not be seen. Giant moose can wander five feet into the willows and be gone. Bull elk can lay on the ground, a log with long branches sticking upward, their antlers looking like all the other tree and shrub branches surrounding them.
As I had driven searching for fox movement, nothing…no foxes until on my fifth pass I saw movement. Stopping suddenly, I gasp. Just above the road on the hillside was a bevy of foxes. Old enough for playful freedom, mom sat by the den as her kits chased each other, running, jumping, and tackling as they rolled in the grass. I had found the red foxes.
Stopping across the road, I stayed in the car so as not to disturb. Cautiously, I stuck my prized new 600 mm f/4 prime lens out the window. The foxes ignored me as I watched their playful antics through the camera’s viewfinder. It was like a treasure of foxes. Six kits and their mother running like kids full of youthful energy.
With low early morning light, I adjusted my settings, and began to shoot. But the kits were fast. They bounded about with endless energy like Golden Tempo, the thoroughbred race horse coming from behind to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Nothing was slowing them down.
They raced and chased each other. One threw a ball of food in the air, and five others raced to capture it. The battle was on, rolling and tumbling, nipping at each other with open mouths like playful labrador pups. The food was snagged by one, and five others were in pursuit with their own plans for a hearty meal.
The photographer challenge was following one with the lens then seeing others rush by, adjusting, and tracking each. There was always action happening, always a kit on the run, always a brother or sister tackling another for a down hill tumble. I set the camera to burst mode, shooting up to twenty frames a second.
Then, just as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared. I lowered my camera searching the area. That’s when I saw them again, way up on the hillside in tall grass, wrestling and tumbling as their mother sat on the hill above them, monitoring their behavior. She was calm and patient until she couldn’t take it any more, and joined in the family fun.
For an hour, I watched them disappear and reappear in the tall grass. Their energy seemed boundless, their enthusiasm evident like a young Bronco’s fan in the last minute of a tied NFL Championship game.
Then just as quickly, they were back down the hill in front of me. Not so much energy, but certainly still playing. With later morning light and the kits running a bit slower, my camera captures became clearer with sharp details. I was getting wonderful red fox images.
At the end of two hours, one-by-one the kits returned to their den under mother’s watchful eye. When it was over, I was all smiles, and when I returned home and sorted through the images, my smile only grew. I had wonderful red fox images.
