Huntsville, UT — Out of more than 25,000 images from 62 countries, local photographer Brian Clopp of Huntsville, UT, has snapped up a major win in the famous Nature’s Best Photo Contest with an adorable photo shot right here in Dugway, Utah. His endearing image of a rare desert kit fox lovingly wrapping its tail around a family member earned him the top prize in the Animal Antics category, and Brian’s image was also one of the lucky five images selected to be featured on the cover of Nature’s Best Photography magazine, due to be available in December. After three dedicated nights of camping in the dusty desert, Brian was able to come away with breathtaking pictures documenting their life and behavior. He knew when he stumbled on theses elusive creatures it was such a unique and rare experience, that he changed his flights for a trip to stay longer with them.
According to the contest, “Out of more than 25,000 amazing submissions from photographers in 62 countries, our Judging Panel, along with staff editors and quality control specialists, chose nearly 500 photos for the semi-final round of judging. After extensive review of all high-resolution Tiff and RAW files, along with captions and related data research, the finalists were selected.”
Nature’s Best Photo Contest, a non-profit and one of the top 10 photo contests in the world, is now in its 29th year.
Brian now leads photo workshops to the wild horses in Dugway, wildlife in Tetons, and landscapes around the world through his new venture Lens Explorers, which donates a portion to charity. He’s presently setting up a free newsletter to help others learn his techniques with wildlife photography.
In addition to the contest’s winning images touring notable galleries across the country, Brian feels blessed that they will also be featured on tour in Children’s Hospitals. “This is why I do photography,” he says, “So that others may enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our world.”
Additional images of the foxes Brian captured those 3 days in the desert: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mVVHnCyDNakAG_-jlD6ndxZ0CXutV2lk?usp=drive_link
Video of the rare encounter: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CfeSzSvY1aEFtDU-tCDGfREX9oLHGeFf?usp=sharing
All Winning Images from the contest: naturesbestphotography.org/winners2024
About Nature’s Best photo contest:
"What we have treasured over the years is the immediate and long-lasting affect a single image or film instills in the hearts and minds of children, adults, and families alike, inspiring discussions, imaginative perspectives, and most importantly, a greater understanding and appreciation of nature overall.” - Stephen Freligh, President & Cofounder.
Mission: “Nature’s Best Photography discovers, celebrates, and displays the creative and documentary talents of nature photographers and visual storytellers of all ages and backgrounds. All NBP initiatives strive to engage and involve global audiences, enhance artistic expression, promote outdoor education and personal well-being, and inspire greater public participation in the conservation and preservation of the natural world.”
Contact Info:
Brian Clopp: brianclopp@gmail.com, (732) 939-9571, instagram.com/brianclopp, instagram.com/TetonWonders, instagram.com/LensExplorersOfficial
Nature’s Best contest:
Amanda Gaquin (Editorial and Operations Manager), amanda@naturesbestphotography.org, Office Phone: 703-467-9783
Stephen Freligh (Cofounder & President), sfreligh@naturesbestphotography.org, 703-467-9783, Facebook@naturesbestphotography.org, Instagram@naturesbestphotomagazine
Description of the Winning Image:
Kit Fox (Vulpes Macrotis) Simpson Springs, Onaqui Herd Management Area, Skull Valley, Dugway, Utah USA By Brian Clopp Huntsville, Utah, USA BrianClopp.com and coming soon LensExplorers.com FB: @BrianClopp ; IG: @BrianClopp , @LensExplorersOfficial
Who Are You Wearing? In a heartwarming display of sibling affection, one fox lovingly wraps its tail around the other, resembling a cozy scarf. Witnessing the genuine tenderness between these wild animals may serve as a poignant reminder to reconsider the use of furs. As an intelligent species, the question arises: why would we want to take a life for our own pleasure? Every living creature represents a unique gift of experience in the vast universe, and here, amidst the harsh desert landscape of Simpson Springs in Dugway, Utah, these foxes share a moment of pure joy. Their evident love for each other transcends the challenges of their environment. Perched atop their collective dens, these creatures, soon after the snapshot, retreat underground to escape the scorching heat of the day. Getting the shot involved camping out for three nights in remote desert with hot summer heat; when the foxes napped, so too did the photographer. “At one point I was sleeping on the desert ground and I heard a man, woman, and child talking in English about if I was okay or asleep; I woke up and the foxes were chattering and looking at me, no human beings were around. I wondered if I had imagined their words, or interpreted them. I took a video because the encounter was so surreal and once-in-a-lifetime, I didn’t know if anyone would believe it!”
Nikon D850; Nikon Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4.0E Telephoto lens; 1/2000 sec at f/8; ISO 4000; hand-held.
CONFIRMED: Each image is a non-captive species in a natural situation. No bait was used.
BRIAN CLOPP is a wildlife photo tour guide leading workshops in the USA and abroad through LensExplorers.com, where a portion of the proceeds supports conservation. He guides locally in the Tetons, and to Utah’s wild horses of Dugway. After co-producing a Golden Globe-nominated film with Angelina Jolie, Clopp shifted from the city lifestyle of Los Angeles to a newfound passion for wilderness photography. Clopp also won the Travel Photographer of the Year honor for his photo series on wild stallions. His portraits include noted celebrities such as President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, James Earl Jones, John C. Reilly, and Jesse Jackson. His Eagle Scout project as a teenager established an annual drive that continues to this day as the main source of winter clothing for Trenton’s homeless, and has since been replicated in towns across the country.