A Rabbit Before Me

I like the squeaky crunch made by freshly fallen snow as it is compressed under hiking boots. Especially at dawn, when there are no other footprints in the snow, providing certainty that no-one else has trodden through or gazed upon the unfolding scene beforehand. However, when I reached the summit of Martinsell Hill in Wiltshire this morning, I found a rabbit had got there first. I decided to use its tracks as leading lines to the much-photographed pine tree. As the risen sun was only just out of frame, I shaded the lens with my hand to avoid flare. Sharp focus from front to back was ensured by making three images at different focus points, which I combined in processing using focus-stacking software.

F/22, 1/8th second, ISO 100
Accepted: Scottish International 2019