PracticalPhotograPhy.com 31
I
’mlayingconcealedbehinda boulder,high
onthesideof thecairn gormmountain.in fr ontof me two
mountain hares, camouflaged by their white winter pelage,
have paused briefly in a snowy field. i spotted the hares on
the walk up into the northern corries – i came to this high
place with the aim of photographing the ptarmigan and the
hares are a most welcome bonus. i watch as the male follows the
female in a large semi-circle across the mountain side around
where i lay on the frozen ground.
i can feel the cold penetrating
my clothes as the wind whips
spindrift around me while i wait
fo r the hares to move position and
gi ve me a clear view. the female
twitches and she’s off up through
the boulders as the male resumes
his pursuit. as they run higher
they cross a snow slope and i
manage to lock focus on them, takinga shortburstof images
before they disappear over the crestof thehill.
the high places of the britishisles arespectacularatanytime
of year, but when winter arrives they take on a totally different
character, becoming an arctic wilderness. these high places
are home to three animals that change colour as winter
approaches – the mountain hare, ptarmigan and stoat. of these
three, i have photographed the mountain hare and ptarmigan.
i’ve seen stoats in ermine (in their white winter coat) – one once
popped out of a hole in a roadside snow bank while i waited for
traffic to pass – but they have so far eluded me photographically.
While ptarmigan can only be found in Scotland, mountain hares
reside in parts of the Peak district as well as on Scottish islands.
over the past few years, the popularity of mountain hare
photography has exploded. not many years ago, i first visited
a quietglenin Scotland’smonadhliathmountains where you
wouldbe unluckyif yousawanothersoulon the hills. today, t he
same glen is the epicentre of mountain hare photography, and on
busy days there can be multiple tour and workshop leaders and
their clients dotting the hillsides. While it’s great to see so many
people engaging with nature, it’s always good to find a quiet
place far away from the madding crowd.
Winter can make for great photographic opportunities, but it
can also be hard on wildlife, photographers and our equipment,
which all need extra care at this time
of year. i know from experience that
having to be towed out of a snow
bank isn’t much fun! my car is now
‘winterised’ with all-season tyres and
i carry spare clothing, a sleeping bag,
food, water, a tow rope and folding
snow shovel in the boot.
i also look after my camera gear.
i carrysparebatteries,havewaterproof covers, use a blower
brushformy lensesandtake care to acclimatise my camera gear
whengoingintowarmplaces to avoid condensation forming
inside it. When out on the hills, i dress for winter and carry spare
clothing and food. if necessa r y, i use an ice axe, crampons or
spikes. i was taught how to use these while on a course in the
alps run by Plas y brenin (the national mountain cent re) a nd
would highly recommend a winter walking course for anyone
thinking of venturing into the hills this season.
winter can make
for great photo
opportunities, but it
can also be hard
andrew mason
Adventures of A wIldlIfe photogrApher MountAIn hAres
Andrew Mason is a lawyer turned wildlife and landscape
photographer based in Staffordshire. He has been
published worldwide and his clients include theRSPB
and The Wildlife Trusts. andrewmasonphoto.com
