A Hare In The Morning

I got this photo by chance. I was looking for cranes early in the morning when suddenly a hare jumped in front of me. I whistled to draw its attention; the hare raises to its hind legs just for long enough for me to take two pictures. This is one of my favourite photos, in the top five. What's best about the photo is the athmosphere created by the light and the classic surroundings.

Kuusamo
Technique: Canon F1, 4.5/400mm, Kodachrome 64
May 1981

A Mighty Jump

Driven by their instinct to return to their birthplace, the trouts from Paanajärvi Lake come to spawn to the headwaters of the Oulankajoki River. On their journey they must struggle to get through the tumult of the Kiutaköngäs Rapids. Their rise is successful in July when the water is at an opportune lever. The trouts jump mostly from the same spot. On the best days you can see tens of jumps.

Kuusamo, Oulankajoki River, Kiutaköngäs Rapids.
Canon EOS IV, 28-70mm, Fuji Velvia
July 2003

An aerobatic display

The Jay, common in Southern Finland, is quite few in number as far north as Kuusamo. Here the winters are long, days short and the temperatures freezing.

In the Kuusamo region the jays live quite close to residential areas. Although it is a rather timid bird, you can see it visiting bird tables placed near forests.

In this picture you can see the jays performing their own kind of aerobatics. I had an automate where tits came to eat, they could reach the food from small holes in the bottom. The jays learned how to jump in the air so that they could peck seeds out of the hole each time.

Kuusamo
Canon EOS V, 2.8/300mm + 1.4X converter, Fuji RHP III, hide
September 2006

Autumn of the Siberian Jays

A pair of Siberian Jays live on the same territory all year round. In autumn they collect food for the winter. Berries, mushrooms, worms and other excess food is hidden in the mossy trees for the winter.

This fall I again served a familiar pair of Siberian Jays their favourite, vendace heads.

Kuusamo
Canon EOS IV, 2.8/300mm, tripod, Fuji RHP III
September 2007