Floating hide photography

In 1998 I moved to Nijmegen and soon discovered some Black-necked grebes on a local lake. I loved to watch the birds but noticed that they did not like human presence around. I read about an American who used a floating construction to photograph water birds. I made my first floating hide and got some nice results from these Black-necked grebes. I was hooked, and in the following years, I visited many places close to home and abroad to work with a floating hide. I have also started working with Brabants Landschap, a nature conservation organisation, and have permission to leave a floating hide in a lake all year long. As the local wildlife is completely used to it, this has provided me with exceptional possibilities.

The sessions themselves require some discipline and dedication: I have to be in the hide before the first light. That usually means getting in the water 1,5 to 2 hours before sunrise. Sitting motionless in the water means that you really need good insulation: I use a dry suit with layers of wet suits under it to stay warm. Ultimately you need to wait, sometimes for long periods, until the birds approach. Only then will the magic happen. If you start chasing the birds, they will leave, and no good images result from that.