The number in the title is fictional (I've missed far more shots than that), but today's ranks high. Now it's not that I generally have much difficulty in photographing foxes. The garden foxes are easy, and I've even managed shots of a fox wandering along neighbouring streets. But foxes in woodland and fields are quite a different story. Part of the problem is that I see them so rarely. The other is, I'm always utterly shocked when I do. As was the case this morning.
I'd taken a short diversion to a local field to see if any buzzards were around (they weren't), but I did come face to face with fox enjoying the early morning sun. It stood watching me from about 20 yards away. I slowly raised the camera, and of course it ran. Not a disaster in itself, but the autofocus picked out an intervening shrub. This is the result.
It wasn't an entirely wasted visit. The location has glorious views.
And it is a haven for butterflies. This is an Adonis Blue.
I also saw a blackbird out berry picking for breakfast.
So one missed opportunity, but several other worthwhile moments. Plus, of course, more reasons to visit there again 😉
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
12 Comments
Sorry you missed getting the fox photos, but the landscape picture is phenomenal. The Adonis Blue is such a beautiful butterfly, and you capture it perfectly here. Thanks for sharing your "worthwhile moments" today.
Well, it's not quite "the one that got away"! :p Great scenic pics.
Nice photos anyway. That thing with autofocus is annoying sometimes, make blurry object of main interest but very nice and sharp everything else 😀
Vulpes, well it was an improvement on a previous attempt in another location. At least you can more or less tell that there's a fox in there somewhere.
Darko, thanks. I wouldn't have had time to focus manually. But yes, annoying :irked:
Stunning butterfly – that's really come out well! :up:
As for the shrub…I did ruefully smile at that. I have known similar episodes 😮
Cynthia, I got my reward this morning as you'll see when I post later. 🙂
Aah well, sometimes a shot is just not meant to be. It looks like it would have been something special. Nice to see you're still getting some sunshine.
Do you use a centre-point focus point or let the sensor array pick the target? I tend to rely on a centre-point setting, with a quick flick to MF if focus problems remain.
I gather England is struggling a bit against SA at the moment, albeit Flintoff is making his mark.
Adele, assuming that it's a regular haunt I'm going to be struggling with shrubs for a while yet. There is barely a clear shot to be had unless the fox ventures out a bit (which I doubt it will do).
Brenda, well I got another chance today, with better luck. I'm using the centre point for focusing, on AI mode (auto refocus). Occasionally I'll select an alternate single point to help frame a shot, or switch to single shot mode. With the 100-400 on single shot I can override the AF with the focus ring if I'm using single shot. That's probably the best combination for shooting through branches.
'Freddie' is doing us proud. Can't say the same for the rest of the team though 🙁
😆 My son called today to tell me he almost sent a photo to me – of the place where two beautiful deer had been standing just a second before he took the picture. I told him I have hundreds of shots like that!! 😆
The rest of them more than make up for the missed shot and actually, the shrub turned out quite well
Lois, I'm glad I'm not the only one. A return visit is sometimes successful, though I was extremely lucky to find the fox there the following morning. It can often take numerous trips and a lot of waiting.