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In the Realm of the Arctic Fox
In the Realm of the Arctic Fox
Mats Andersson
February 14, 2025
LFI: How did you come up with the project, what was the impulse behind it?
Mats Andersson: In 2017 I was in the Westfjords in north-west Iceland for the first time. On our road trip we passed a center where we found two arctic foxes behind a fence. I knew from before that there were wild arctic foxes on the island, but they are very shy and I had only seen them from far away. But it was not until 2023, preparing for a photo-workshop in Iceland that I got an opportunity to go up north and visit the vast Hornstrandir nature reserve. It was there, in that remote area, that I had my first close encounter with wild arctic foxes. And I was ecstatic!
What fascinates you about arctic foxes, and what did you want to show with your pictures?
What is so fascinating about these small foxes – and at the same time a staggering thought – is that they were there in Iceland before the first people came to the island in the 9th century. The arctic fox is thus the only native mammal in Iceland and has been there for thousands of years. The foxes that live there now stem from at least five different families. They are believed to have wandered to Iceland during the small ice age sometime in the late 13th century.
What exactly was your photographic approach? How did you go about it and what were your challenges?
First and foremost, I always want to show wild animals in their environment. I want to show the animal’s natural habitat. When I go a little closer, I always want to convey a feeling. As in one of the pictures from this summer, titled Alone – the small fox sitting in the landscape where the snow melts, bending his head, seemingly a little sad [Last picture in the article, editor's note]. The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is to use powerful telephoto lenses and make portraits of the animal. Then you completely miss showing that you’re out in the wilderness, and also the habitat where the fox lives; in the kingdom of the arctic fox. The challenge is to show as much of the landscape as possible – and let the tiny foxes become just a small part of the photograph, to show how they live and what it looks like in their kingdom. The foxes have not been hunted up here, therefore they are not that shy. But having a camera that can be completely silent was an advantage on certain occasions.
How did the Leica perform for your project?
My Leica SL2-S is magnificent! I really appreciate the extensive dynamic range, the stabilization in the camera allowing long shutter speeds when handheld and the fact that I can shoot at night with high ISO. Not to mention that the lenses also are the best you can have. Leica’s lenses really are in a league of their own. One of my favorite lenses for wildlife is the Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3. Absolutely perfect!
What do the arctic foxes tell us about nature, and about the country itself?
They really tell the story of Iceland. They are the only original native mammal in Iceland, and have been here for millennia. A real survivor. To me, they, if anything, are the symbol of Iceland.
Katja HübnerMats Andersson: In 2017 I was in the Westfjords in north-west Iceland for the first time. On our road trip we passed a center where we found two arctic foxes behind a fence. I knew from before that there were wild arctic foxes on the island, but they are very shy and I had only seen them from far away. But it was not until 2023, preparing for a photo-workshop in Iceland that I got an opportunity to go up north and visit the vast Hornstrandir nature reserve. It was there, in that remote area, that I had my first close encounter with wild arctic foxes. And I was ecstatic!
What fascinates you about arctic foxes, and what did you want to show with your pictures?
What is so fascinating about these small foxes – and at the same time a staggering thought – is that they were there in Iceland before the first people came to the island in the 9th century. The arctic fox is thus the only native mammal in Iceland and has been there for thousands of years. The foxes that live there now stem from at least five different families. They are believed to have wandered to Iceland during the small ice age sometime in the late 13th century.
What exactly was your photographic approach? How did you go about it and what were your challenges?
First and foremost, I always want to show wild animals in their environment. I want to show the animal’s natural habitat. When I go a little closer, I always want to convey a feeling. As in one of the pictures from this summer, titled Alone – the small fox sitting in the landscape where the snow melts, bending his head, seemingly a little sad [Last picture in the article, editor's note]. The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is to use powerful telephoto lenses and make portraits of the animal. Then you completely miss showing that you’re out in the wilderness, and also the habitat where the fox lives; in the kingdom of the arctic fox. The challenge is to show as much of the landscape as possible – and let the tiny foxes become just a small part of the photograph, to show how they live and what it looks like in their kingdom. The foxes have not been hunted up here, therefore they are not that shy. But having a camera that can be completely silent was an advantage on certain occasions.
How did the Leica perform for your project?
My Leica SL2-S is magnificent! I really appreciate the extensive dynamic range, the stabilization in the camera allowing long shutter speeds when handheld and the fact that I can shoot at night with high ISO. Not to mention that the lenses also are the best you can have. Leica’s lenses really are in a league of their own. One of my favorite lenses for wildlife is the Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3. Absolutely perfect!
What do the arctic foxes tell us about nature, and about the country itself?
They really tell the story of Iceland. They are the only original native mammal in Iceland, and have been here for millennia. A real survivor. To me, they, if anything, are the symbol of Iceland.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Mats Andersson
EQUIPMENT: Leica SL, Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3, Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 f/3.5-4.5 Asph
Mats Andersson+-
In the late eighties, he studied Photography at the Industrial Art School in Gothenburg. After that, Andersson worked as an art director and photographer in the advertising industry; since 1989 at Concret Advertising in Sweden. In 2011 he was elected to Nature Photographers /N. He was chosen as Wildlife Photographer of the year on various occasions, and was overall winner of the NNPC 2016 (Nordic Nature Photo Contest). In addition to featuring in a variety of newspapers, magazines and calendars, he has published thirteen books. More
