An image of a Mountain Hare absorbing the rays of the bright sun on a winter’s morning, what could be more idyllic! The reality was the snoozing Hare was on the leigh side of a rocky terrain, out of the wind, gusting at times more than 50 mph.

I started my journey in the hope of photographing mountain hares at 8am, parking in the car park at Glenshee. I made my way onto the higher ground, trying to follow what I thought could be a track although the times I disappeared to my waist in a snow drift were too numerable to recount. The winds were so strong I couldn’t look directly into the driving snow, it was a blizzard that at times was difficult to stand, in let alone look for hares.

Today luck was on my side, I noticed what looked like a ridge and thinking to myself it would be the perfect place to be tucked away and out of the wind, I made my way in that direction. To my disbelief I encountered three hares, I could not believe my luck, gone were my frozen fingers and my aching back. Although some distance away I managed to take out my camera and photograph the three looking for heather to feed on. To get closer and close enough to fill the frame would be difficult as I would be in full view, already to my cost I have realised they don’t like humans! With patience on my part, I waited in the hope they would move in my direction, not to be however, eventually the first one ran towards the ski slopes the second then followed leaving a single hare continuing to graze.

After what seemed like an age, it was a time for a snooze, my subject got comfortable, closing it eyes it appeared to go into a deep sleep. This was my opportunity I didn’t hesitate, remaining on my stomach I dragged myself down the slope and through the deep snow, looking back I had created a deep furrow. I crawled for around 30 metres completely exposed to the glare of the snoozing hare, luckily for me it didn’t move or even lift an eyelid, I was however somewhat surprised and pleased. Crawling within 15 to 20 metres I photographed this sleeping beauty, now hoping It would open it’s eyes and have a good stretch maybe pull a face or two however it slept on!

In total the Hare slept for around 50 minutes, finally opening one eye and then the second, standing up it stretched several times looking around, and to my amazement, totally ignoring me. I was now in a sitting position in the snow a maximum of 20 metres away but most importantly not moving and maintain face covering behind the camera. Finally, it slowly moved off looking for food, at this point I slowly retreated absolutely buzzing, what an amazing encounter.

Unfortunately I still had to find my way back to the safety of my Motorhome, I had been out for six hours and again falling into countless snow drifts I was feeling exhausted, the second image was taken by a photographer from the carpark, as I made my descent  continually falling into channels of deepening snow, he had great delight showing me the image he had taken with his new F2 lens, he very graciously  sent me a copy, which I can share with you today.

I do feel that a picture can convey 1000 words, it can also hide the effort and lengths we wildlife photographers can go to in the hope of that special moment in time when we feel at one with nature. It can also hide the frailty of the keen amateur but aging photographer.

Details. Nikon 850 + 500 PF Handheld 1/1250 ISO 220 F8 

20/02/2022

My passion is without doubt to photograph and work with wildlife, I try to show a part of my subject’s lifestyle within my photography.

I have left home without everything imaginable but not my camera, that I have never forgotten however on one occasion I went out to photograph brown hares locally, when I arrived, I had my camera and lens but no memory cards!

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