[Portfolio] Floating hide in August

[Joost Bollens]

Floating hide in Slovenia

I recently used a floating hide for several days to photograph water birds in Slovenia. This hide can be seen as a kind of raft, to which you can attach your gimbal head. There is no floor, so you always remain in contact with the bottom of the pond with your feet. This allows you to move around (more or less) easily. Where the water is shallow, it is more like kneeling than standing on your feet.

This way of working has several advantages. The main one, in my opinion, is that you can photograph the animals at eye level, which leads to a natural and pleasing result.

[Joost Bollens]

Since the raft is covered with a tent, you can get reasonably close to the animals without being recognised as a human, and in this way you do not disturb them.
In the first photo, yours truly, dressed in a neoprene suit, is standing at the edge of the pond, where it is obviously not very deep yet. Also visible is the business end of my 600mm f/4 FL, with a z9 hanging somewhere behind it.

[Joost Bollens]

Another advantage of sitting in a pond is that, more often than not, you can approach a subject from 360°, allowing you to choose your background (and the direction of the light!). This is a luxury we don't usually have on dry land.
The background of the first kingfisher is not very pleasing, and the composition also leaves something to be desired. By taking a few steps to the side, I got trees in the (distant) background, which at least adds a bit of colour.

[Joost Bollens]

As mentioned, you can also “choose” the direction of the light. I found these whiskered terns in backlighting to be truly spectacular. I find it difficult to choose...

[Joost Bollens]

The same chicks, after we turned to the other side (180°, now with light in the back), and another one with backlight...

[ARTUROARTISTA]

Congratulations, they are magnificent and very natural,

[Birna Rørslett]

Agree, an interesting perspective on bird life. Might I ask which lake in Slovenia?

[Ashlandish]

Wonderful!

[Joost Bollens]

Agree, an interesting perspective on bird life. Might I ask which lake in Slovenia?

These were actually fish ponds, the kind where they drain the water at the end of the season and then harvest the fish. Located south of Maribor.

[Øivind Tøien]

Really nice, your dedication is well rewarded. I especially like the egret image (for the cuteness of the chick), the good and unusual use of the low angle on the frog, and the last series of frog feeding to chick series, all nice, but perhaps the second one of those stands out + the last one.

BTW, for those looking for a detailed description of such a floating hide, Morten Hilmer has a nice video explaining it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0dnVFGzCoM (from 34:30).

I would be a bit nervous about bringing all that expensive equipment in such close contact with water without further protection like a waterproof housing...

[Joost Bollens]

these being fish ponds, there was a lot of fish to be seen...

Obviously also the reason why we saw that many birds (even in august)

[Bent Hjarbo]

Must say, very nice and natural looking pictures.
Thanks for sharing.

[golunvolo]

I agree with all of the above. I thoroughly enjoy the series and I have a soft spot for the feeding-backlighted images, I can see why you had a hard time choosing.

  All the gear does work too 

  Thank you for sharing it

[Ann]

Superb work: I really enjoyed looking at this marvellous series.

[Fons Baerken]

Yes truly excellent work!