For anyone reading this, it's been a very long time indeed since my last blog post here - nearly three years in fact - which seems absolutely crazy!! I have still been getting out with my camera, albeit rarely, I've just really struggled with any kind of momentum. I should add that life has been an absolute rollercoaster during that time with, sadly, more lows than highs. The good news is, the lows are in the past and I'm in a much better place now, which in turn might allow me to get back into a better routine with my camera and enjoy what I absolutely love doing - looking for and photographing wildlife! More good news is that I have now officially started a new project, which is the subject of this post.

Since the start of this year, I've had a plan in place for a new long term project on a subject that I've not pursued before. Regular visitors will know all too well that I primarily focus my photography on birds and butterflies, and whilst this won't change, I've been feeling the need for something different, and a local site is home to a healthy population of a species I've not really pursued before - brown hares.

Brown hares, scientifically known as Lepus europaeus, are an iconic species of the English countryside. Renowned for their agility and speed, these elegant creatures are characterised by their long, powerful hind legs, which enable them to reach remarkable speeds of up to 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour). With their distinctive brown fur, adorned with patches of black and white, brown hares blend seamlessly into their natural habitat, providing them with effective camouflage from predators such as foxes, birds of prey, and us humans. They are herbivores, feeding on a varied diet of grasses, herbs, and agricultural crops and are more often than not found on farmland.

During the breeding season, typically between January and August, brown hares engage in dramatic displays of courtship behaviour, including chasing each other in circles and leaping high into the air. These displays are something that hares are renowned for and are commonly referred to as 'boxing', involving both males and females and serving to establish dominance and select mates.

Despite their remarkable speed and agility, brown hares face numerous threats in their natural environment, including habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and predation. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these enchanting creatures and ensure their survival for future generations to admire and appreciate.

 bggggggSo, what's the project? Well, in a nutshell, to get out as much as I can and focus solely (or almost solely) on getting to know and shoot my local hares, ideally in as many different conditions as possible. I'm keen to put together a portfolio spanning all four seasons, and spring seems the perfect time to get things underway. This post will therefore cover my first foray out into the field (no pun intended), which was intended more as a recon visit to get a feel for the habitat, lighting etc.

Monday 15th April 2024 (Evening)

With a favourable forecast, at least in terms of light, I decided an evening walk to the hare site would be a great opportunity to get a feel for the location at which I intend to spend as much time as possible. Understanding a location is such a key factor in photography and nothing beats being there in person to gauge the best spots from a lighting perspective but also from a compositional perspective. Backgrounds and foregrounds, for example, can make or break an image, and whilst I've been to the location many time before, I've not really explored the area with hares in mind.

Upon arrival, the sun was soon consumed by a rolling bank of dark cloud accompanied by a very strong wind. No sooner had I reached the first main field than the heavens opened. I hurriedly took shelter under a hawthorn bush to wait things out and began questioning my choice of hobby. Fortunately, the downpour soon blew through, leaving a beautiful rainbow.

I then began a proper search for the hares and found a few hunkered down in the middle of a field but left them to it, deciding to focus on my main goal of getting a sense of where I'd want to be and when. During the next hour or so, I spotted a number of hares but most of them were incredibly wary or very distant. After a good lap of the main fields I headed back to where I started and had another scout of that section. This is when I noticed a couple of hares a little distance away grazing on the very edge of a stubble field. One in particular seemed very relaxed, so I downed my bag and binoculars and began a long and slow crawl with my camera, keeping as low a profile as possible. This approach worked well although in hindsight I was a little too impatient and moved faster than I needed to but it was a valuable lesson learnt. By this time, the sun was relatively low in the sky and this resulted in some interesting lighting conditions.

Getting a handful of images during this session was an added bonus and not something I was expecting. It has given me that little extra encouragement that this project could be a success so a return visit for early the following morning was on the cards. Part 2 will cover that...