Blaine Photographer Wins $5,000 for Kit Fox Portrait

A portrait of nocturnal kit foxes earns a local photographer a top prize in a national contest celebrating public lands.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Wildlife

Gouache-painted illustration of a desert kit fox standing on a rock at twilight, evoking nocturnal wildlife conservation. — Blaine photographer Brian Clopp won a $5,000 prize in a national contest for his nocturnal portrait of desert kit foxes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Blaine resident Brian Clopp won the $5,000 grand prize in the 2026 Hand 'Em Down, Not Over photo contest for his portrait of desert kit foxes. The image was selected by a six-judge panel for its contribution to celebrating and protecting public lands.

Why it matters

This award highlights the importance of preserving habitat for the kit fox, a species currently classified by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as having the greatest conservation need due to habitat loss and coyote pressure.

The winning image, titled 'Who are you wearing,' earned a $5,000 prize from The Wilderness Society. Kit foxes typically weigh between 3 and 6 pounds and remain a primary focus for conservationists in Utah.

The players

The Wilderness Society

A national nonprofit organization that advocates for the permanent protection of public lands and the preservation of wildlife habitats.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The state agency responsible for managing wildlife populations and identifying species that require urgent conservation intervention.

The details

To capture the nocturnal foxes, the photographer adjusted his sleep schedule and camped in the Utah desert to monitor the animals in their natural environment. The panel of six judges unanimously selected the image from the total pool of entries. The photographer now plans to use his winnings to launch new photography competitions next year.

Brian Clopp won the contest grand prize in 2026.
The photographer plans to launch two new contests next year.

The Home Front

This recognition aligns with broader efforts to monitor species designated as having the greatest conservation need under official state management frameworks. Protecting these desert habitats remains a critical factor in mitigating the impact of ongoing habitat loss for native wildlife.

Residents can support local conservation by maintaining native landscaping that provides safe corridors for nocturnal wildlife. If you spot endangered species in your area, report them through official state wildlife channels to aid in monitoring efforts.

The takeaway

Celebrating public lands through wildlife photography can bring much-needed attention to species under environmental pressure. Homeowners can contribute to these conservation efforts by minimizing artificial light pollution to protect the natural cycles of nocturnal animals like kit foxes.