Red Fox Hunting Tall Grass Noon North Carolina

Flat noon light bleaches the color from the tall green grass blades of a North Carolina field. A red fox stands low among the stalks, its russet fur glowing against the pale sky. Dramatic white and grey clouds stack heavily overhead, casting no shadows due to the harsh overhead sun. The fox's head tilts forward, ears pricked, focused on the ground beneath its paws. Tall stems bend slightly under the weight of the morning dew, though the heat of midday evaporates moisture quickly. The grass blades create a dense green wall around the animal, hiding its lower legs. One shadow falls directly beneath the fox's chest, sharp and dark against the bright earth.