Hide photography requires patience

Hide photography requires patience

Finnish professional photographer Mia Surakka photographs birds in a way that is not suited for couch potatoes. She captures birds from hides, of which she has several—also available for client use.

Floating hides

Would you dare to go photograph great crested grebes’ courtship displays as soon as the ice melts? Would you dress in a dry suit, step into literally ice-cold water with a floating hide, and stay there for up to three hours? Of course, you would! Because this way, you can get incredibly cool photos.

“The birds are unfazed by the floating hide and come really close—some might even perch on top of it,” says Surakka.

The floating hide provides the flexibility to move around freely. Unlike a fixed hide, which limits your ability to control the direction of light, a floating hide lets you adjust to find the best composition for your shot—sometimes shooting into the light, sometimes with it, and always discovering the most beautiful backgrounds. Initially, you’ll want to capture the essential close-ups of the birds, but afterward, you can strive for a competition-winning shot—just as Surakka has done. It’s important to be considerate of the hide’s location. For example, you must not disturb nesting birds or people, so avoid entering the water from someone’s private shore. According to Surakka, using common sense and politely asking for permission will get you far.

It’s wise to scout the bottom of a new location in advance. Every step must be taken with caution, considering factors like sinking mud or sudden drops.

Capercaillie and eagle hides

Both Surakka’s floating hides and regular photography tents originate from the Czech company MrJanGear. From tents, she photographs, among other things, displaying capercaillies. The tent must be set up in the forest well in advance so the birds get used to it. However, they never get used to people—and they shouldn’t have to. Surakka has had a permanent hide and feeding station for photographing eagles in the northern part of Pirkanmaa for nearly seven years. Still, you must get to the hide well before sunrise for morning photography—and spend the entire day there to capture eagles in the beautiful evening light.

“Eagles are shy birds, and when they perch in a nearby tree, the photographer must remain patient for a little while longer,” advises Surakka. “A too-quick camera lens movement might scare the bird away for the rest of the day.”

Cameras should be set up in the shooting ports before sunrise. Lens choices must be made in advance—you can’t change them during the day. Also, you must remain completely silent in the hide. It may sound challenging, but amidst all the digital noise, a few hours in the forest with your thoughts can be refreshing.

Surakka uses Canon cameras and is a Nordic professional for the brand. In the floating hide, you can only have one lens with you, and for Surakka it is often a fixed 600 mm. Although birds come close, Surakka still likes to use this lens to get good close-ups. She photographs eagles with a fixed 400 mm lens, which also allows capturing events—like eagles fighting—in the frame. The lenses have a good aperture: others f/2.8, and the 600 mm f/4.0. If you have two bodies, the other can have a teleconverter for great close-ups. Many also use a 100–500 mm zoom.

“Anything between 300 and 600 mm is a good choice,” says Surakka.

Surakka offers a couple more good tips for bird photography. Especially, it’s beneficial to either learn about bird behavior yourself or go with an experienced guide. If you want to capture the best moments, you need to anticipate. This is easiest when you recognize behavioral cues, such as those preceding takeoff. And the more time you spend with a particular bird species, the better shots you’ll manage to capture!

We are proud to present Surakka’s Piilotteleva Palokärki -collection (Elusive Black Woodpecker). More stunning images can be found on her own website and her Instagram.