Always Look Behind You

Sometimes in order to get the shot you want you may find yourself compelled to take certain actions (chances) that you would likely never do under so called normal circumstances. It is that part of photography where the photographer gets a little fixated, obsessiveness clicks in; reason, caution, and common sense seem to just disappear.

I had a small dose of this hit me while exploring for shots at Arch Rock Viewpoint in Boardman State Park on the coast of Oregon. I found the shot I wanted but I could not find a clear shot of it, one without obstructions in the way, from any of the designated viewing locations. I could see that if I could just get a little closer to the edge of the cliff I would likely have the perspective and the open view I wanted. The fence was a low one, only about three feet high, and there were no signs saying to not climb over it. And the clincher was, there was no one else around.

I hopped the fence and made my way closer to the edge. Then seeing that if I could move to my right I would be in better position. The problem was the steepness of the bank. I sat down and clinging to the low-lying shrubbery I inched my way ever so gradually about 20 feet and into position. The result was the picture above. The angle of the log gives an indication of the degree of steepness with which I was dealing.

Always Look Behind You

“Always remember to look behind you” is a mantra I carry around with me in the field. Though it was awkward to maneuver my camera and tripod around to get this shot behind me I felt if was definitely worth the trouble and I was grateful those familiar words were available to prompt me.

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Red Foxes

I had never experienced anything quite like photographing red foxes. I was with them nearly all day, for three days in a row. I was so taken by them, especially the way they related to each other. Above is the dog fox, the adult male of the group, with one of his offsrping, a female kit fox. In this family group there were two vixen, one was the grandmother, the other the mother of three kits. The adult females attended the den all day with one or the other going off to hunt, returning with food for the kits. Missing most of the day was the dog fox and when he would return the kits all gravitated to him. All of the kits seemed to adore the dog fox but the moments between him and his daughter were especially touching. What a gorgeous, photogenic animal he is. When I returned a year later he was still there and there was a whole new brood of kits. I am hoping to return again this year having missed last year due to a bout with covid. I hope this particular fox is still there

Coyotes Are Territorial

Driving on a back road I saw this coyote running full speed parallel to the road and in the same direction I was driving. I had my camera in my lap and got a couple of quick shots of him. I noticed him looking back a couple of times and there some distance behind him was the reason for his apparent panic This coyote was coming like gangbusters. It was a marvelous animal, bigger than the other, and looked to be a much more powerful animal, running, leaping and digging in, giving it all he had in what appeared to be a chase after the first coyote. As they went up over the hill and out of sight, we had to drive farther up the road to the other side of the hill to a place we could park and get out of the car. As we got out of the car, here came the first coyote, the one who was being pursued, around the bend, still glancing back, panting, but no longer running for his life. I am guessing that this coyote was in the other coyote's territory and was being run out. Once he was ov

Family Life Of Red Foxes

The family life of a red fox is a joy to observe. The kits are very much like puppies, jumping on and chasing each other almost the entire day. Of particular interest is how the Vixens teach the kits to eventually become self sufficient around their food supply. There are two vixen in this family unit, the mother and grandmother, and I can not tell them apart. The kits you see here are still suckling from their mother. But by this time in their young lives she is well on the way introducing them to game. In the beginning she will stash the game, encouraging the kits to forage for it. The next step in the process you can see here, where she brings game directly to the kits. Here she is dropping a rabbit for them. At this stage in the teaching she has killed the rabbit. The next stage will be for her to bring them live game. The little black one grabs the rabbit and makes a run for it getting away from his siblings. At a safe distance he releases the rabbit and examines it.

Notes To My Mother

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