Vixen Portrait

Jay Ryser

Vixen Portrait

I decided to take a day off from work and hit my fox location – I figured it would be less busy on a weekday, and the foxes might be more relaxed. Pock was out early, and he was all over the place, trotting here and there in search of breakfast. He’d trot down one trail, and a few minutes later, trot down another trail from a different direction. He didn’t mind passing close by me, he just would sit still for a photo.

This vixen, the alpha female, on the other hand, was more than willing to pose for me. She perched on top of a little rise, facing east, with some lovely directional morning sun lighting her up – I don’t think I could have had better light if I had her in a studio.

We tried several poses, but settled on this one as our favorite.

Near the end of our portrait sitting, I noticed one of the big coyotes down the trail. he noticed the fox, but I don’t think he saw me until I walked from around the tripod – once he saw me, he took off, and the fox ducked into one of the pipe openings they use as a den.

This is the new mom – at least as far as I can tell. The beta (maybe now the new alpha) was feeding her on Sunday, and her tummy does look distended and a little red. I’ll post more as the situation develops.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Wheat Ridge, CO
Sony a700
Sigma 300mm f/2.8
Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick

ISO200, 1/400sec, f/5

Vixen Portrait belongs to the following groups:

300+ Go Long!, All Animals Great And Small., All That is Nature (Photography Only), Colorful Colorado, Depth Of Field (2 images per day) - Read Group Rules Please, Exotic Mammals, High Quality Animal Images - 1 Submission a Week, Nature's Wonders, Wild Nature Photography & Writing, Wildlife, Landscape, and Nature Photography Online Magazine and Wolves & Wild Kin Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Vixen Portrait by Jay Ryser
Vixen Portrait by Jay Ryser
  • Deborah H. Benoit

    Deborah H. Benoit

    Jay to me this is one of your best captures. Fabulous work abd a fav for me!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    And I have about a hundred very similar ones – she was a very cooperative model.

  • laurav

    laurav

    well captured! Isn’t so great when they pose for you!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    With the males, I’m lucky to freeze the action, but this vixen is very calm and poses beautifully.

  • Tim Denny

    Tim Denny

    Jay, nice capture here, good job

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Tim

  • lorilee

    lorilee

    She’s beautiful!!!!! A fabulous image!!!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks – she is a beauty.

  • Gary Lengyel

    Gary Lengyel

    You definitely nailed this one!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    It helps to have a cooperative model . . .

  • Ginny York

    Ginny York

    Isn’t she gorgeous Jay! Perfect focus and detail and excellent DOF!! Gary is right…You nailed it! I hope we see little ones soon!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Ginny – she is gorgeous

  • Jonathan Bartlett

    Jonathan Bartlett

    Wow. I agree with Deb. This is one of the best ones I have seen!! Great capture. Should’ve invited me, I’m off this whole week!! lol.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Had I known, I would have. I was originally going to the zoo, but changed my mind at the last minute.

  • lefty1

    lefty1

    wow, this is a lesson in perfection, Bravo!!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Hey, thanks John!

  • Photomojo

    Photomojo

    She is sitting so pretty for you!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    I couldn’t ask for a better model

  • Eivor Kuchta

    Eivor Kuchta

    Wow, this is just perfect, Jay! Lighting, DOF, exposure, everything is just right!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • AFogArty

    AFogArty

    Love your studio location and model choice!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    And she works for free!

  • Bunny Clarke

    Bunny Clarke

    What a beautiful animal. Splendid capture.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Bunny

  • Marleia Main

    Marleia Main

    Perfect!! :))

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • Jessie Leavitt

    Jessie Leavitt

    Wow, all of these are AMAZING! My friend Jonathan Bartlett sent me over. he said you are pretty amazing, I agree!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Jessie

  • Neil Swenser

    Neil Swenser

    Great shot Jay and she sets off so well against the blurred background.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    The background in this area can be so busy I wanted to make sure it was blurred. Thanks

  • Victoria Sheldon

    Victoria Sheldon

    Gorgeous Capture!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • Krys Bailey

    Krys Bailey

    She is a supermodel, Jay! This is a gorgeous pose – love the way she’s wrapped her lush tail round the front of her legs! Perfect! ;o)

  • Jay Ryser replied

    That was her idea – I didn’t even have to ask her to do that

  • Mariann Rea

    Mariann Rea

    Good job! fav

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Mariann

  • ilpo laurila

    ilpo laurila

    Fantastic shot Jay.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Ilpo

  • Sandra Heath

    Sandra Heath

    I love foxes. love this shot!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    What’s not to love about foxes

  • C J Hummel - Foxfire Gallery

    C J Hummel - ...

    Par Excellent! Excellent wildlife shot. definitely deserves a Gold Medal.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • Kasey Cline

    Kasey Cline

    WOW Jay I am thinking this is your best ever! Its incredible and she sure is beautiful! She was a perfect model for you my friend! Stellar!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    And so professional too

  • Natures Vision

    Natures Vision

    Beautiful shot Jay, well done!!! – Ann

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Ann

  • JenLand

    JenLand

    She truly is gorgeous! Wonderful capture!!!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks – she is gorgeous. My favorite fox

  • francophotos

    francophotos

    Great work Jay cant wait to come accross one

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Well head out to Colorado and we’ll get you set up

  • Steve Taylor

    Steve Taylor

    Great portrait.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Steve

  • John Beamish

    John Beamish

    Wonderful shot and story.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks John

  • Bellavista2

    Bellavista2

    Brillance! A wonderful capture of a Vixen close-up…Wow!}

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • Teresa P. Pelaez

    Teresa P. Pelaez

    Amazing capture!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Teresa

  • Craig Hender

    Craig Hender

    Superb capture, and pin sharp detail. Well done.

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Craig

  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

    Beautiful capture Jay!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Renee

  • Ruby Del Angel

    Ruby Del Angel

    beautiful!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks

  • francophotos

    francophotos

    Great idea Jay.. bit far from the UK though!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    But with cheap air fares lately . . .

  • Jan Piller

    Jan Piller

    This is such a classic perfect portrait. Really beautiful work!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Jan

  • francophotos

    francophotos

    Yeah but….

  • Braedene

    Braedene

    You have fantastic fox shots – love the angles, the clarity and the detail in them all – this is wonderful. Liz

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Liz

  • KSkinner

    KSkinner

    Stunning shot!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks – I like this one

  • Susan Hudgens-Moore

    Susan Hudgens-...

    Those eyes! Those amazing eyes! What a great capture!

  • Sandy Stewart

    Sandy Stewart

    Lovely portrait capture, including lovely warm lighting to highlight the warm shades of her coat! : )

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Sandy

  • snappyexposure

    snappyexposure

    What perfect composition, exposure, catchlight, DOF.
    Brilliant, loving it.
    Paula

  • Jay Ryser replied

    I love it when everything comes together – including a great model

  • Kelly Robinson

    Kelly Robinson

    Stunning image

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks Kelly

  • Robert Armstrong

    Robert Armstrong

    Fantastic capture, excellent framing and dof!

  • Jay Ryser replied

    So much easier with a great model

  • David Clarke

    David Clarke

    Superb shot, Jay, quite stunning!

  • NATURELENS

    NATURELENS

    Super image, lovely portrait :-)

  • jesika

    jesika

    St Focus beamed a HUGE smile upon you that day. A superb image.
    j

  • JennyDean

    JennyDean

    great capture Jay.

  • ilpo laurila

    ilpo laurila

    Great capture, wonderful shot.

  • William C. Gladish

    William C. Gla...

    Beautiful image and subject Jay

  • Jay Ryser replied

    Thanks William

  • Ken McElroy

    Ken McElroy

    Congratulations!

    You are among those to appear on the first feature page for the new group;

    “300+ Go Long!”:http://www.redbubble.com/groups/300-go-long

  • DutchLumix

    DutchLumix

    Awesome, capture !!!
    Have dutch fox on my B-page but not as good
    Kind Regards,
    Erik Amsterdam The Netherland.

  • Edyth Counter-Griffis

    Edyth Counter-...

    lovely subject, lovely shot! Great work…

  • rgress77

    rgress77

    Facinating shot & creature:)

  • KatsEye

    KatsEye

    Love the story you tell. This is just gorgeous. Gotta love nature at its best.

  • RickF

    RickF

    Fantastic shot!

  • Gary Lengyel

    Gary Lengyel 2 days ago

    Excellent capture Jay!

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