Island Life Magazine Ltd December/January 2017 | Page 42

Interview

Doug ’ s foxes spark great debate !

Our cover photo on the last issue certainly got Islanders talking – and even placing bets !
The burning question being : WAS that stunning shot of two foxes at The Needles the real thing , or just a clever bit of superimposing by the photographer ? Well , who best to ask than the man behind the shot , Douglas Cox . If you took a punt on the shot being a fake , then sorry but you ’ re out of pocket ! Doug , a 69 year-old amateur photographer , snapped the image as one of a whole series of amazing shots that he managed to take after literally ‘ taming ’ the foxes to the point where they would take food from his hand . He explains that he initially came across the foxes by chance , when he went to Headon Warren to photograph a Needles landscape . “ I was just sitting having a cup of coffee when I saw a fox in the hedge ” he says . “ On later visits I saw two or three , and on one occasion there were five ! “ They became my subject for 2-3 weeks and I ’ d go every night with food until they became tamer and tamer , and finally were taking food from my friend Ray ’ s hand and actually fighting for it , while I took pictures ”. Unfortunately , in his delight and excitement about the extraordinary photos , Doug posted some on Facebook – which resulted in eagle-eyed Islanders being able to identify the location . In no time , the site was awash with visitors wanting to spot the foxes - which rather spoiled it for any further photo opportunities . “ At one time I would have got annoyed by that ” he says , “ but now I just think
oh well , at least I ’ ve given people some inspiration .” And retired aerospace engineer Doug is naturally delighted to have the fabulous photos in his portfolio . A member of the Sandown and Shanklin District Camera Club , he says he still gets a buzz from taking a ‘ pristine ’ photo , and when he ’ s not at his part-time job as site manager of Osborne Middle School , he spends most of his spare time out and about with his beloved Nikon i10 camera .
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