A Fox Tale

Wilderness and nature have attracted me since I was a child, and I have always roamed the forests and fields whenever I wanted to hear the sound of the crickets, birds, or even the silence. Nature photography allows me to strengthen this connection with Mother Nature and explore its well-kept secrets

Razvan Duta

It is 5 AM and the first rays of light are slowly making their presence felt. Everything around me seems otherworldly and all I can hear are the bird songs complemented by the strong scent of fresh mint, with no signs of human activity. Arriving at the fox den one hour before sunrise, I mount my tripod and camera, trying to keep the noise as low as possible. I lay down the waterproof blanket, cover myself with the camouflage net and take my place where I wait motionlessly for the next couple of hours. It's all now a game of patience.

Twenty minutes later, meters away from me, I suddenly see a shadow jumping from the tall grass at the edge of the ditch, where the fox den is. I immediately become alert – it is the mother fox! She abruptly stops in her tracks as she senses someone or something is nearby, probably because of the mild morning breeze heading her way. The fox becomes unsettled, barks three times and then waits frozen like a statue for a few seconds to see if anything happens. The light is faint, allowing me only a 1/25sec exposure time at about ISO 2000. I succeed to take three pictures before the mother fox darts away into the field nearby.