Ghosts of the Mountains

Each winter I make the annual pilgrimage north to explore the Scottish mountains. The weather can be bleak at this time of year and the upland habitat can be a hostile place. As dawn breaks I slowly make my way up the mountain, one foot in front of the other, climbing to the higher slopes. The wind howls, buffeting my every step, seemingly pushing me two steps back for every one forward. The deep, fresh snow makes it difficult to follow the track, and snow in the air drives into your face like tiny needles. This is not for everyone and at times I do question my own sanity. But ultimately this is what I love; the sense of adventure, combining my two passions in life - hiking and photography - in search of the elusive mountain hare.

Throughout this piece, I will talk about my experiences photographing mountain hares, and how working with the hares in the winter presents its own set of challenges, not only for the animals, who each day have to face a battle for survival on these desolate hills, but also for anyone wanting to get a glimpse of these elusive creatures. Whilst the hares have evolved over millennia to deal with these conditions, we as mere city-dwelling humans do not fare quite as well.