Charming Wildlife Portraits Capture the Expressive Faces of Foxes in the Wild

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Pairing his passion for photography with his interest in “hanging out” with animals, 21-year-old Ossi Saarinen is dedicated to documenting his encounters with wildlife. While his body of work stars adorable animals all over Helsinki, the Finnish photographer is particularly fascinated by foxes, as evident in his collection of revealing portraits.

In these striking photographs, Saarinen skillfully captures each animal's unique expressions and distinctive appearance. From a crooked “smile” to a cheeky snarl, the foxes' one-of-a-kind quirks offer a glimpse into their personalities. Through these identifying traits—as well as their markings, mannerisms, and relationships—Saarinen is able to tell many of the animals apart; he even has nicknames for particularly familiar subjects, including “the mother” and “baby fox.”

Saaien was inspired to pursue wildlife photography after coming into contact with a trio of cubs in 2017. Since then, he has spent hundreds of hours in the forest, patiently waiting for the intimate encounters that make his photographs so special. “One of the best feelings you can have is when you're alone in the nature with a wild animal,” he explains. “These are the moments when time stops.”

In his ongoing fox portrait series, wildlife photographer Ossi Saarinen captures then diverse and distinctive personalities of the adorable animals.

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Fox Portrait Fox Photos Ossi Saarinen

Ossi Saarinen: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Shop

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Ossi Saarinen.

Related Articles:

21-Year-Old Photographer Captures Intimate, Soulful Portraits of Wild Forest Animals

Photographer Captures Enchanting Photos of Finland’s Forest Animals in the Wild

Photographer Spends a Season Watching an Adorable Family of Red Foxes Grow Up

Interview: Exploring the Wonderful World of Wild Foxes in Japan with Hiroki Inoue

Charming Photos of Wild Red Foxes Enjoying the Winter Snow

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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