FINDING and photographing FOXES | How to take Sharp PRO images - Nikon Z9

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thanks for watching! Fun Fact: The rabbits were first introduced to the island before the foxes. Both are invasive species. 2024 Workshop: www.mattshannon.ca/workshops.html

[@Sandra-qy7rf]

Bringing in the foxes didn't seem to help lol. Rabbits everywhere. I wonder if the rabbits are good eating?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@Sandra-qy7rfI think they introduced the rabbits to eat (not sure when but I'm assuming a long time ago). Now there are a lot of rabbits and a lot of foxes lol. The foxes might have helped out a little, but one big problem to introducing the foxes is the decline of low nesting and feeding birds. Outdoor cats will also kill off the birds but home owners sometimes put a bell on the cat to warn the birds.

[@coffeeatitsbest1500]

Mmmmmm fresh ground coffee pressed to perfection in an Aero Press. I love it!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

This was one of my first times using an Aero Press. I was very impressed to say the least. Quick, easy, delicious filtered coffee that is super easy to clean and pack away. It will be my go-to on my photography trips

[@lukeiamyourfather7736]

You just had to sneak in a pano shot didn't you. Couldn't just stick to beautiful wildlife photos. I'll let it slide this time......10/10!!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

lol I know right. If there is a beautiful view to take a photograph of, I'm going to do it!

[@rocketmanab]

Wow dude... 16:00 That shot of the fox mid-pounce is epic!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

It was a sweet moment, thank you!

[@jonstout7635]

Great pursuit and photos of one of the most adorable creatures!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! It was a very successful couple of days. I'm surprised/lucky I got to see so much.

[@richardfink7666]

Hello,You definitely deservemore than 11000 subscribers. Your videos are a very good mix of films, photos and travel reports! I love that.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Great compliments and feedback, I appreciate it very much! Next stop, 50,000 subs 😄🤞

[@richardfink7666]

That would be more than deserved!@@MattShannonPhoto

[@oscarjeong9438]

Breath-taking! also 7:35 the photo looks great! 11:42 I like both.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Super happy you liked both of those images! I was presently surprised by the depth I could bring back with the red fox in the grass. Thanks for the feedback and thank you for following along. Cheers

[@blamon01]

Beautiful photography. The detail in the foxes fur is stunning!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you!

[@roydassen]

Those black foxes are so beautiful 🙂

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I know right, stunning! One of them has black and white toes. I could watch them for hours.

[@Lin17h]

Nice, nice, super super nice vedio and fox photos grabbed! and the BGM is so velvety.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! It was amazing to say the least! Thanks for watching

[@MrTmiket0007]

Beautiful video like always, the picture of the fox in Black and white is epic, thanks for sharing 🦊👍🤗

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Awesome, so glad you like that shot. I really liked how it turned out. Thank you!

[@charlievaillant4294]

Bonjour Matt, merci pour ses merveilleuse images...surtout celles en noir, plus de profondeur...🥰

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I am glad you like the black and white image! Thank you for the kind words! Cheers

[@RawNature.]

The fox is a beautiful animal. I don't understand how you can have so much hatred for him and be hunted indiscriminately by so many people. Good video and good photos you have taken, I congratulate you👍.

[@bryanashford5118]

enjoyed this amazing photograhy cant wait for the next adventure

[@MattShannonPhoto]

So glad to hear, thank you!

[@lauriefish58]

Great images again Matt, love the foxes.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Cool! Thanks for letting us tag along!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

You are more then welcome. Thank you for watching, cheers!

[@lassg.3047]

Nice video really enjoyed watching can’t wait for the next one.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'll keep the videos coming, thanks for watching!

[@carlomagri5284]

Discovering your channel. Fantastic and inspiring work !

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Welcome aboard! Glad you found me and thank you for the kind words! Cheers

[@randyschwager2515]

Fantastic video! I love what you are doing! Your images are fabulous! Thanks for taking me along!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

You are the best thank you very much! Cheers

[@noneedtochange9413]

So many shots during your time there. Was it 3 days total?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

2 nights, 3 days. 1/2 a day getting there and leaving were not on the island so yea, pretty good for the time we had there. Actually, it was amazing how much we saw during our time there. We were pretty lucky I think.

[@cabamama]

That was a real compliment to your work being shown in that magazine (Victoria) l. Something to be proud of for sure! Keep up the good work. I love animals of all kinds so I enjoyed the foxes and the rabbits!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Yeah, it's pretty cool to see your work in different flyers and magazines. I am blessed to get paid to take photographs for a living. Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@keoni37]

Loved the pano! Good idea, late summer to go shoot the Fox and avoid the crazyness of being there for the Spring, of course no kits but still lots of great Fox images. I'll have to give it a try. I'm in Ferndale, WA 15 min north of Bellingham so just a short trip over. Thanks for the video.

[@TheWildlifeGallery388]

another stunner

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! 🙋‍♂️😃

[@randygeene9455]

I really like the layers of colours in the pano shot. I really need to learn how to stitch pictures like that! With the fox through the grass, I prefer the colour photo with a little more blurry grass in the foreground. It sort of gives the idea of the elusiveness of the hunt. I just found your channel and have been enjoying your approach and style. I recently purchased a Z8 so discovering the ridiculous focusing system. I came from a D500 which in its own right is a remarkable camera, but loving the Z8 so far.

[@raviwildlifephotographer3321]

Nice photography sir 📸📸

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it

[@jamesbarnes3063]

Incredible

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Cheers

[@BriannaRubino-xy7mc]

Yeah that surprised me. Do you like these?

[@richardfink7666]

Very impressive!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@Karol-jq4fy]

Wonderful ❤❤❤

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ericsmith9777]

Both the color and B & W shots are beautiful. Looking forward to the next video, well done ! Having grown up in Victoria, and spent time on both the Gulf Islands and on the US side, I'd venture to say that you were at Cattle Point Lighthouse on San Juan Island.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much! And yes, Cattle Point for a chunk of the footage. I suppose you could go anywhere on the island and see some foxes there are so many.

[@philipculbertson55]

Wonderful photos Matt. I didn't appear the rabbits were too intimidated by the foxes.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Yeah, it was interesting to watch. My guess is that the foxes listen and pounce on their prey and small rodents seem to be the prey of choice. I think the rabbits put of a fast chase and for the foxes, less running for their meal seems better 🤷‍♂️.

[@BriannaRubino-xy7mc]

lol Interesting I think the Alaska elk shot is awesome, what do you think?

[@BriannaRubino-xy7mc]

lol Interesting I think the Alaska elk shot is awesome, what do you think?

[@Joya5545]

Great video Matt. How are the foxes around you,are they very skittish? This is on my list of places to go next year. Oddly a lot of this video seemed very familiar, I’m in the Victoria area,drive a Jeep and have a hula girl on the dash!!!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you; I'm glad you liked the video! Do you live in Victoria on Vancouver Island? The foxes were not skittish; they didn't even seem wild. They felt more like house cats that were allowed to go outside. That might be a little far-fetched, but the thought crossed my mind a few times while filming and photographing these cute creatures. It doesn't help that people, both locals and visitors, feed the foxes. The foxes also become accustomed to human activity. If they want to pass by you, they will just walk right past. Not all of them, but certainly a few. There was one fox that wanted nothing to do with me. I was over 100 feet away, and it bolted as soon as I walked towards it. I even walked at an angle, avoiding eye contact, and still, it took off. So, I don't want to dismiss the existence of a few wild and skittish foxes in this region. A Jeep with a hula girl, nice! I like your style.

[@siegfriedgrupp6238]

SUPER, great Video!!

[@kenkathie171]

Amazing shots . So enjoying watching a local photographer here on the west coast. I am wondering what setting do you use for your action shots. Trying to freeze a moving bird or animal has been a challenge of mine.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you for the kind words! It is great to have locals watch my content and get something out of it. To capture action shots of moving animals, use a fast shutter speed (around 1/1000 second or faster), a wide aperture to isolate the subject, and consider increasing the ISO for proper exposure. Utilize your camera's continuous shooting mode and continuous autofocus to track the subject's movement. Patience and practice are essential for success in this challenging but rewarding endeavour. I hope that quick summery makes sense.

[@csucameli]

Do you shoot with the mechanical shutter sound set on your Z9? Or is that just to highlight the individual frames shown in the video?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Good question. I usually have it set on the camera to the lowest setting so I can hear it when shooting. The shutter sound you hear in the video is added to enhance the viewing and listening experience 😄😎

[@DwayneFlores-xq1tj]

Shannon what lens are you using with the Z9? With those foxes?

[@craigwallace166]

Stunning images, was it this September 2023 that you were there? Did you have any trouble with the locals? I’ve heard they are getting tired of the fox photographers. At least the badly behaved ones.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Yes, I was there this September. I had a chat with a few local photographers from the island, and one of them was exceptionally friendly. I believe his name is Pillow. We conversed for a while and spent about an hour photographing side by side. However, a few other local photographers seemed disinterested in us. One even scolded my wife while she was on a walk with our 10-month-old because she mentioned how beautiful it was outside. It seems that she unintentionally upset the balance of nature by expressing her love for the outdoors to a local. The island is a bit peculiar, but it's understandable. It's home to many wealthy landowners, and some desire to keep their piece of paradise to themselves. This might explain why there's a bit of friction when large groups of photographers arrive to capture the foxes. The foxes, despite being invasive, are highly regarded on the island. Ethical concerns surrounding the observation and photography of wildlife aren't solely due to visitors; we also witnessed a homeowner feeding three or four foxes during our stay. This seems to be a daily occurrence, which has made a particular location a hotspot for fox activity. Another location along the road had a fox that would approach oncoming traffic. It's an easy place for someone to toss food out the window before continuing their drive. Overall, my wife and I obeyed all the recommended rules (except for that one time when my wife commented on the "beautiful day" to the other photographer; she learned her lesson), and we had a positive experience. Sorry for the rant :)

[@KenCheng]

Amazing! We're from Vancouver BC and have been wanting to visit this island for the longest time! Can you please share the location where you guys camped? 🙏(when you guys slept in the RTT)

[@MattShannonPhoto]

It was in the town’s fair grounds. I think there was only 8 spots. They will not allow tent camping….unless it is a RTT or an RV. It is expensive, $75 CAN. There is a beautiful camp ground that allows tents on the ground on the west side of the island. San Juan County Park is the name I believe.

[@KenCheng]

@@MattShannonPhoto what about car camping, like sleeping inside with inflatable mattress?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I’ve seen others do that while we were there. I think as long as you are not popping up a tent on the ground it’s ok. Might be best to call prior to arrive just in case, especially during the busy season

[@KenCheng]

@@MattShannonPhoto awesome! Thanks for the info! 😊 🙏

[@MattShannonPhoto]

No worries, cheers

[@marcobaddog2776]

No offence meant … we have a saying “if its shite make it black n white”….but nice recovery ….

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Hahaha yes, I can relate to that saying in my own work. I was going to pass up on the image but gave it a go. Thank you black n white option 😁