Peter Cairns lives in the heart of Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park and has spent over 20 years documenting the wildlife and landscapes of this wild area. Pete has also travelled widely and photographed wildlife in North America and northern Europe. He was co-founder of conservation communication projects like Wild Wonders of Europe and 2020VISION and more recently has worked as Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, a Social Enterprise advocating rewilding for large parts of Scotland. Pete is a serving Board Member of Scottish charity Trees for Life and a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Peter Cairns / Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) feeding on red deer carcass, Assynt, Scotland. Highly commended in the Habitat category of the BWPA (British Wildlife Photography Awards) 2016.
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Peter Cairns / Winter landscape reflected in fjord, Lofoten Islands, Norway, March 2013.
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Peter Cairns / Highland cow in amongst native birch woodland, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, England, UK, February.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Rock archway at sunset, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, September 2014.
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Peter Cairns / Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) backlit in evening light, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway, August.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) perching on branch with fish, river and hills in background, Glenfeshie, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, August 2015.
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Peter Cairns / Bison (Bison bison) pair standing on road in winter, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, March.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Saltmarsh exposed by low tide at sunset with view to Ben Loyal, Kyle of Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland, UK, December.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Pine marten (Martes martes) climbing a fallen bough in pine forest, Glenfeshie, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, September.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) portrait of head, Fair Isle, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.
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Peter Cairns / Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in flowering heather. Inshriach Forest, Scotland, UK, September. 2020VISION Book Plate. Did you know? For every Red Squirrel in Britain there are around 18 Grey Squirre...
Peter Cairns / Twilight over Flakstad beach, Lofoten, Norway. February 2014.
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Peter Cairns / Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) in flight in evening light, Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, USA, December.
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Peter Cairns / View over fishing village of Hamnoya, Lofoten, Norway. March 2015.
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Peter Cairns / Waterfalls flowing into Hvita River at Hraunfossar, Iceland, September 2013.
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Peter Cairns / Coyote (Canis latrans) in wintry landscape, Yellowstone National Park, USA, February.
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Peter Cairns / Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) in flight over breeding territory, Svalbard, Norway, August.
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Peter Cairns / European beaver (Castor fiber) foraging at dusk, Knapdale Forest, Argyll, Scotland. Highly commended in the BWPA (British Wildlife Photography Awards) Competition 2016
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Forest lochan at sunrise, Abernethy National Nature Reserve, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, September 2014.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Scottish Natural Heritage Woodland Restoration Scheme sign on Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, Kinlochewe, Wester Ross, Scotland, November 2014.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) breaching, Moray Firth, Scotland, UK, July.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Tangled dead boughs of veteran Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Rothiemurchus Forest, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, September.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Twilight over Lochan na h'Aclaise, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Lochaber, Scotland, UK, October 2014.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Pine marten (Martes martes) reflected in woodland pool, Ardnamurchan, Lochaber, Scotland, UK, June.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Ferns and mossy deadwood in Atlantic oakwood, Taynish National Nature Reserve, Argyll, Scotland, UK, June.
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Black throated diver (Gavia arctica) swimming, Assynt, Sutherland, Highland, Scotland, UK, June.
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Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Red deer (Cervus elaphus) portrait in pine forest, Cairngorms NP, Highlands, Scotland, UK, April
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) foraging at night, Knapdale Forest, Argyll, Scotland, UK, June.
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Pete Cairns / Landscape with Bison {Bison bison} and steam from geysers, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming, USA
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Pete Cairns / Morning glory pool, Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming, USA
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Pete Cairns / Deer fence protects tree plantation from damage from grazing deer. Red tape reduces Grouse collision, Highlands Scotland, UK
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Pete Cairns / European Wolf (Canis lupis) adult female in boreal birch forest in winter, Bardu, Norway, captive
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Pete Cairns / Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) in flight over woodland clearing, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Solar halo over Laitaure delta at dawn, Sarek National Park, Laponia World Heritage Site, Lapland, Sweden, September 2008
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Aerial view of the Laitaure delta, Sarek National Park, Laponia World Heritage Site, Lapland, Sweden, September 2008 WWE BOOK. WWE INDOOR EXHIBITION
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) semi-domesticated, small scale herding by local Sami, Sarek National Park, Laponia World Heritage Site, Lapland, Sweden, September 2008
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) male, head portrait, Strathspey, Cairngorms NP, Scotland, January 2009
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Red throated diver (Gavia stellata) on water, in breeding plumage, Bergslagen, Sweden, April 2009
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in flight carrying fish, Kangasala, Finland, August 2009
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Two Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) interacting, Svalbard, Norway, September 2009
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Cairns / Three Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) resting on sea ice, Svalbard, Norway, August 2009
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Peter Cairns / European Lynx (Lynx lynx) in birch forest in snow, Tromso, Norway, captive, April
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Peter Cairns / Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) sub-adult male (two years) flying down to take prey, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, captive
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Peter Cairns / naturepl.com / European brown bear (Ursos arctos) reflected in forest pool, Finland
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Peter Cairns / Young female European Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in woodland. Martinselkonen, Suomassalmi, Finland, June.
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Peter Cairns / Wild cat (Felis silvestris) portrait in long grass, Scotland, UK
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Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / View up through canopy of Silver birches (Betula pendula) in winter, Insh Marshes, Cairngorms NP, Highlands, Scotland, UK, December. Photographer quote: ^Fingers and toes might protest at -15c, but on...