Floating Hide ??

[trev wilson]

I've been reading quite a few articles recently where the photographer has used a floating hide to get close to lake birds, grebes etc.
Has anyone got any links or advice on this type of hide.

I'm aware they are probably in a dry suit or chest waders and have the shoulders and head inside the hide.

Cheers

 

[Nova]

I was very amused at Johnny Kingdom the wildlife filmmaker building a floating hide in one of his programmes, it looked a bit risky but worked well for the purpose. Are you into DIY?

 

[paulc]

I read about a guy called nial benvie using a floating hide in a magazine article to photograph waterfowl and he definately had chest waders on.

see the link below

http://www.geocities.com/rfbowsher/grebes.htm

 

[Pink Fairy]

Generally they're more of a floating support for the equipment than the photographer, and to be used in shallow water only... otherwise there can be dangers.
I'd look to a wooden pallete maybe with some extra bouyancy underneath, the rest can be accomplished with a good amount of scrim.

You can't do this sort of thing anywhere, you may need permission. Be very careful if you're intending use on tidal waters.

 

[trev wilson]

Cheers for the responses, I was starting to think this was a taboo subject, abit like when people get a s***y on about captive/zoo pictures. People like Andy Rouse and Ben Hall used floating hides of a sort to get pics of grebes with chicks and nesting birds in reeds. Always chest deep in waders or dry suits, and I'm sure safety was and always is paramount..

Thanks for the replies..