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Another 'hide and seek'


Another 'hide and seek'
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 94 N: 5564] (17694)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-02
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite wild animal photos 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-19 5:52
Viewed: 365
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This week I saw the theme ‘Hide and seek’ here on TN. Then I remembered this photo, taken in a new ‘nature reserve’ in our region called Bentwoud. When I walked there between the long grasses, I suddenly saw this head just in front of me.

The European Hare or Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia.

It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the same family but a different genus. It breeds on the ground rather than in a burrow and relies on speed to escape.

It is larger, longer-eared, and longer-legged than a rabbit. It has a body size of 50-70 cm and a tail length of 7-11 cm. The weight for a full-grown adult ranges from 2.5 to 6.5 kg. It can run at speeds of up to 72 km/h (45 mi/h). It is strictly herbivorous. It eats grasses and herbs during the summer months but changes to feeding on twigs, bark, and the buds of young trees in winter, making it a pest to orchard farmers.

Normally shy animals, hares change their behaviour in spring, when they can be seen in broad daylight chasing one another around meadows. During this spring frenzy, hares can be seen "boxing". This is where hares strike one another with their paws. For a long time it had been thought that this was inter-male competition, but closer observation has revealed that it is usually a female hitting a male, either to show that she is not yet quite ready to mate or as a test of his determination.

The hare is declining in Europe due to changes in farming practices. Its natural predators include the Golden Eagle and carnivorous mammals like the Red Fox and Wolf.

Smaller hares native to southern Europe previously regarded as European Hares have been split off as separate species in recent years, including the Broom Hare in northern Spain.

Introduced populations
The European Hare is now found wild in a number of areas where it has been introduced: Eastern North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and many islands including Tasmania, the Falklands, Barbados and Reunion.

The species was imported to North America from Germany by a farmer living near Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1912. It escaped from the farm, successfully colonized fields and woodland edges, and quickly made the "Jackrabbit" a common sight in southern Ontario, New York State and New England where it is sometimes called the 'Eastern Jackrabbit'.

Natural predators such as eagles, owls, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats, together with humans and dogs, have kept the American population under control. Hares have often been hunted or coursed for sport.

"Jackrabbit" in American usage (attested in 1882) more specifically refers to the closely related Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and the White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii). The name is supposed to be a shortening of "jackass-rabbit", so called for its long ears.

Mythology
In modern paganism the hare (or rabbit) is associated with the spring goddess Eostre. In the Netherlands, Belgium and some other European mainland countries, it still is the Easter Hare rather than the Easter Bunny.

Source: Wikipedia
horias, boreocypriensis, techranger, jlinaresp, bahadir, siggi, zulfu, CeltickRanger, Gert-Paassen, nglen, Noisette, xTauruSx, PaulH, Argus, maurydv, anel has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi again Peter,
A superb ccapture of this hidden beauty between bushes that enhanced the meaning of this lovely composition. I liked the contrast colours and your POV here.
TFS and have a nice day MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Peter,
This lovely rabbit is amazing...have a scared look ...
Great capture of this moment!
Congratulation!
Horia.

Great capture of the hare in the grass Peter. That red eye creates an image of determination. An interesting pose for a hare where you would normally find a beast like a lion... HA! The hunter and the hunted... :)

Larry

Un interesante trabajo con los colores y las texturas; bien parece un cuadro al óleo más que una fotografía. Buena captura del ojo que da una dimensión diferente a este trabajo.
Saludos Peter: Josep Ignasi.

Hi Peter,

An absolutely natural picture, very difficult to solve given the complexity of the elements. Excellent job, very good composition. Very interesting!

TFS!

Jesús

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-08-19 9:34]

Hi Peter,this is a juice of wildlife.....i think that you have a very good zoom in your camera,and the result is wonderful whit impresive sharpness and beautifuls colors.My best compliments for this different and nice work,have a nice day,LUCIANO

Hello peter, great shot of a hare in its biotop.
Nice compositin.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 414 W: 0 N: 1030] (5550)
  • [2009-08-19 10:38]

Very good portre of this rabbit, nice compositin too!

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2009-08-19 10:44]

Hello Peter,
great shot of this littel rabbit with big eyes! Good timing and beautiful colors too.
Best regards Siggi

Ciao Peter. Fantastic lightning rare capture! Magnificent pose. Indeed well done.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1066 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-08-19 11:55]

Hello Peter, wonderful and lovely shot of a wild hare from nice point of view with nice compo.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

hello Peter

a superb photo of the European Hare hided by the vegetations,
fine POV and framing, superb focus on it over the vegetations,
excellent sharpness and details, beautiful hard luminosity,

TFS

Asbed

Hallo Peter,

Mooi vastgelegd en zelfs een haas heb ik nog niet vastgelegd.
Mooie opname met die kop boven he gras uit.

Gert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-08-20 9:40]

Hi Peter my friend. Its so good to be back and thanks for the kind words from you. You were able to get a fine close up of this Hare. We do not see tomany in my area. You have captured the colours so well with sharp detail in the head and large ears. All with interesting notes well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello peter
what a great capture of this European Hare sitting in the high grass
great illuminated shot with beautiful colors and wonderful composition
Ilike the lok of this rabbit
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Hello Peter, beautiful shot of a a brown hare with nice pose and composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2009-08-21 3:02]

The only time i see a Hare is running away into bushes! They are pretty hard to spot and capture, so you did well here. Lovely setting amongst the grasses, well done.
Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2009-08-21 12:44]

Hello Peter,
This hare is well captured with fine eyecontact through the grass stems. The POV, clours and composition are great but it looks a little over-sharpened.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

Hello Peter,
a splendid capture of the European Hare taken in an astonished and typical posture, very beautiful bright colours in a very nice composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1730 W: 0 N: 3938] (15810)
  • [2009-08-23 4:55]

Hello Peter,
I had missed this lovely shot..really a hide and seek game! Amazing to see the red eyes with its powerful glance. The Hare saw you for sure!
Very pleasnt decentred composition and interesting graphical aspect of the grasses.
Thanks a lot. Spend a nice Sunday.
Anne

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2009-09-03 3:02]

Hi Peter,
lovely and very stylish. The graphical presentation by the tall grasses is very captivating. I like the way the hare shows itaself. So natural and so intact with environment.
Brilliant use of light too.

Regards,
Foozi

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