The Story Behind My Award-Winning Fox Kit Photograph
Donna Feledichuk
The Story Behind My Award-Winning Fox Kit Photograph
In the past month, an image I captured years ago has been gaining remarkable attention. It recently earned a bronze medal in the prestigious World Nature Photography Awards and has since been featured by various news outlets. Just last week, I had the honor of speaking with Matt Salloway on CBC's The Current about the photograph and the journey that led to it.
When asked to describe the image for radio listeners, I painted this picture:
Imagine a young fox kit, legs stretched out like a cat in mid-pounce, suspended in golden backlight as it leaps effortlessly across a log pile.
This moment, frozen in time, has earned international recognition—but let me take you behind the lens and share what it took to capture it.
A Tale of Survival & Resilience
This particular fox family originally denned beneath an old barn on our property. The five kits had just begun exploring their surroundings, cautiously venturing beyond their burrow’s entrance. I spent about a week observing them—until, quite suddenly, they disappeared.
I had noticed a coyote prowling uncomfortably close to the den on several occasions. Coyotes pose a grave threat to young foxes, and I suspected the mother had moved her family to safety. The kits were still so small that I found it hard to imagine them traveling far.
A few days later, I relocated the family 2.5 km away in a log pile—the very place where the vixen herself had been raised years prior. The mother’s determination to move her kits such a distance, all while evading predators, left me in awe. But there they were—all five, safe and sound.
Patience, Observation & The Perfect Moment
As I continued watching them in their new home, their personalities began to shine. The boldest kit was always first out of the den and the last to retreat, while the shyest one hesitated at the entrance, reluctant to join the others.
Over time, I became attuned to the rhythms of their movements and the way light played across the logs at different times of day. I noticed a particular spot where the kits hesitated—a small dip between logs that most crossed with caution. But the adventurous kit? It embraced the challenge, bounding down and scrambling up repeatedly.
Then, one evening, I saw it—a moment of pure instinct and agility. The kit leaped.
I knew immediately this was the shot I needed. From that moment on, I locked my lens on that very spot, watching for the opportunity to capture the perfect leap. I waited for days, letting countless other adorable moments pass unphotographed. I visited in the evenings, when the light was most magical. And finally, after hours of patience and countless missed chances, I got the image.
Good photography is rarely about luck. It’s about observation, persistence, and an unrelenting passion for the story behind the image
What It Means to Me
This fox kit’s leap is more than just a photograph—it’s a symbol of hope and the beauty in a world that seems a little lost right now. I am deeply honored that this image has received such recognition, not only because of the award but because it means more people are seeing and appreciating the wildlife of the Boreal Forest.
Thank you for being part of this journey. If you'd like to bring this image into your home as a fine art print you can find it here.
