Fox Neighbour, Villain, Icon

About this book

Fox: Neighbour, Villain, Icon features the work of three award-winning photographers, Neil Aldridge, Matt Maran and Andy Parkinson, who have been photographing foxes collectively for over 20 years. Now, they are combining their talents to produce the most comprehensive photo book about one of Britain’s best-known predators. Their powerful and sensitive images shed light on the truth about foxes, and seek to dispel many of the myths that malign society’s attitudes towards these enigmatic animals.

Photographer Andy Parkinson says, "I have a genuine passion for foxes. I have worked with them for the last 10 to 15 years, and a huge motivation for me is to show the beauty, show the worth, and show the value of these incredible icons of our countryside". Parkinson’s photographs, together with those by Aldridge and Maran, illustrate the lifecycle of foxes in both rural and urban settings, captured with innovative field craft and camera techniques.

Fox: Neighbour, Villain, Icon also examines the fascinating and contradictory relationship the British have with the fox, told through revealing images of rescue and rehabilitation work, fox hunting with hounds, and those working on the ground to protect them. Says Neil Aldridge, “I love the fact that we have been able to collaborate with a whole series of writers: people who are studying foxes in our towns, or saving them from hunts, or living alongside foxes on our farms and in our countryside. These are real stories from all across the country."The 100-plus images include award-winning photos from Wildlife Photographer of the Year and other major international photo competitions, as well as images which have never been published or shared before.

Among the informative essays written exclusively for Fox: Neighbour, Villain, Icon, are pieces by leading natural history experts and professors, including Dawn Scott and Martin Wallen, as well as farmers and carers who have close relationships with these highly intelligent creatures. Photographer Matt Maran says, “By understanding that our space is also their habitat we can foster greater compassion and respect for foxes”.

Naturalist and broadcaster, Chris Packham, who has written the foreword to the book, comments, “I think a book that celebrates foxes and displays them as they are – very beautiful animals – but also animals that have integrated themselves into the fabric of our society, is a brilliant idea, because the fox is one of those animals, unfortunately, that people still like to demonize".

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Biography

Neil Aldridge is a photographer, filmmaker, speaker and professional wildlife guide. He uses his work to increase understanding and awareness of conservation issues and inspire change. His photography has been published by National Geographic, as well as in BBC Wildlife magazine and the collaborative Remembering Wildlife and Photographers Against Wildlife Crime book projects. He won the World Press Photo environment category in 2018 and the overall title of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2014. Some of his most signifcant work has focused on endangered African wild dogs, rhinos and pangolins in Africa, where he grew up. In recent years he has documented British wildlife such as bats, badgers and foxes, with particular emphasis on society’s relationship with these species.

Matt Maran is the founder of Hemisphere Publishing. He has been photographing and flming wildlife for more than 20 years. His images are widely published in leading international publications including The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, BBC Wildlife and National Geographic. He also works with commercial and non-proft organisations to showcase the conservation efforts taking place on their land and runs private and group workshops to help people engage with nature through photography. Matt’s images have featured in competitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year, European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Montphoto and the British Wildlife Photography Awards. More recently, his work documenting urban foxes has resulted in media attention in print, online and on-air.

Andy Parkinson is a features contributor to National Geographic, a Nikon Europe Ambassador and one of Europe’s most awarded photographers with more than 100 individual awards. In 2020 he won Big Picture Natural World, one of America’s most prestigious wildlife conservation photography contests. Andy leads photo tours to wildlife hotspots in Africa and Asia and also enjoys photographing wildlife close to his home in rural Derbyshire, especially swans, badgers and foxes. His ethos is to only photograph animals that are wild and free. As well as multiple Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, Andy was overall winner of Bird Photographer of the Year 2016. In 2012 he was named Nature Photojournalist of the Year for a portfolio of 12 gannet images captured whilst working on assignment for National Geographic.