Getting low

With a fresh fall of snow forecast last week I thought I’d give my laying-down hide a whirl.  I’d been using a standard hide over the last month with a good degree of success but now it was time to get a different perspective.  Using this hide is always a challenge for two reasons.  Firstly, it’s quite a hassle setting it up and secondly, it’s darn uncomfortable!  But, and I stress the word but, the resulting images can be very rewarding which hopefully makes up for the discomfort endured. 

I use a modified bivvy-style tent with a lens opening sewn in as well as 2 side viewing panels with one-way mesh. I first put down a length of tarpaulin which the hide lays on to prevent sticks, stones, thorns etc penetrating the nylon and a large piece of camo netting is then draped over and guy-lines secured.  A rubber-backed picnic blanket is placed inside to silence any sounds from within which also acts as an insulator and then a roll matt or self-inflating mattress is put on top of this.  In order to support the camera I use a foot square piece of ply with tent pegs in each corner and a 3-way pan and tilt head attached to this.  It’s a very secure and stable platform from which to work and slow shutter speeds are not a problem with this.  I guess you could use a beanbag instead but then that restricts smooth movement of the camera.  Very important when shooting shy birds.  To complete the set-up I take in a cushion to support my chest and to prevent the inside of the hide getting messy, I take off my boots outside place them in a bag and they come in with me.  See what I mean by hassle?!  Needs must though and once inside, movements need to be kept to a minimum since there isn’t a great deal of room.

 There wasn’t quite as much snow as I would have liked.  A few more centimetres would have given a better covering, providing a ‘cleaner’ ground.

I have worked like this a great deal over the years, photographing rabbits and waders amongst others, sometimes for periods exceeding 12 hours.  The negatives are obvious.  The positives are aside from the intimate perspective you create, wildlife becomes accustomed to this low profile way of working far quicker than with larger, more conventional hides.

Tags: birds, blackbird, feeding station, hide, laying down hide, robin, snow, technique, winter