Camera School

In this latest instalment, Paul Sterry of Nature Photographers explains how to get the most out of hide photography

Top tips and advice on how to get the most out of bird hide photography

Public hides

Hides are a tried and tested means of allowing close encounters to be had with a wide range of species. Whether you use public installations or your own personal hide then the opportunities for photography can be superb

Many nature reserves are provisioned with large public hides. Most provide an excellent platform for observation but, from a photographic point of view, many are pointlessly positioned – too far from any action, or facing into the light for much of the time. There are a few, however, where some thought has been gone into their location and placement, and these can yield some great images. The downside is their public nature and fact that you have no control over the actions of others – loud voices, waving arms, mobile phones and pagers going off, you have probably seen and heard it all. Plus, in those few hides that are good for photography, dozens of other photographers will have taken almost identical shots in the past. The same can be said for set-up hides in Britain – hides for the likes of Kingfishers and Cuckoos, where you pay for the privilege of taking exactly the same shots as everyone else who uses the hides. They certainly improve your chances of taking photographs, but individuality is limited.

Hides in several locations on the East anglian coast offer occasional opportunities to photograph migrant Little Gulls

Hides can be useful but the positioning of some don’t allow for great results