Little fox in the big city

Neil Aldridge's Image

Contemplating the complex relationship Britain has with the red fox, Neil imagined a picture of one in a sprawling urban landscape.

Hanging his camera out of his window, he waited – ‘the fox would show up any time between 10pm and 4am,’ he recalls. To avoid baiting with food, Neil wiped fish oil on the ground, enticing the fox to pause just long enough for this shot. There are an estimated 33,000 foxes in urban Britain, some of the highest-density fox populations in the world. Yet despite perceptions that these populations are rising, experts believe we could simply be seeing more of them as they become bolder and grow used to living in close proximity to us.


Behind the lens

Neil Aldridge

Neil Aldridge

South Africa

As a photographer and filmmaker Neil uses his work to increase understanding and awareness of conservation issues and to inspire change. His images have won major international awards and he’s a contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife Magazine and collaborative book projects such as Photographers Against Wildlife Crime and the Remembering Wildlife series. In 2022, he co-published the book Fox: Neighbour, Villain, Icon. He also works for a major rewilding charity and engages people in nature on his wildlife and photography tours.

Image details

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • 16-35mm f2.8 lens at 16mm
  • 1.6 sec at f7.1  •   ISO 1250  •   Hahnel remote shutter release
  • London, England
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

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