Floating hide, great crested grebe

Bonjour
Following the thread where Danny is showing a pair great-crested grebe taken from a floating Hide. I thought I should show some of my grebe.
First of all:a floating hide is a difficult affair, it is cumbersome, heavy, dangerous for the gear and for the photographer if he cannot swim!
I build mine with plywood and foam, it is much smaller that the one Danny is showing(And to have taken that hide in Norway is GREAT ACHIVEMENT!Personnaly I find hard to take a canvas hide with me when I go away...never mind a floating hide!)
I have been using the floating hide on a lake in a private property not far from my home(It was a b*s*a*d to take the mother there!)
For the last three year I have been photographing a pair of great crested grebe, the great thing about the hide is that you can get so closed and the birds are not afraid of you, it is MAGIC!
The floating hide give you another perspective, it also give you the possibility to take REALLY diifferent pictures.
Anyway enougth talking.
Bonne journee
Frederic

Yes, no kidding, I can just about manage my camera & lens, never mind a hide of any kind!

I do like this shot - and it's apparent that this is a close encounter of a special kind

Stunning image Frederic - a very special image that comes from dedication

Total inspiration and I take my hat off to you - excellent work

A tad tight to the LHS ( a bit to close) but that detracts little from a excellent image, Envious.

T

Hi Frederic,

Really Really like this one. Would you be able to post a pic of your hide as I am now interested in constructing one, because I am moving near to an estuary and might be able to try it out there.

Thanks and Regards
Chris.

Frederic - could I echo Chris's request as I am now determined that 2008 is going to be the year of HMS 'Get Me Closer' - any images both in and out of the water would be brilliant

Lovely shot Frederic

The bent reed is a bonus in this instance for me, as it frames the sitting bird nicely!!

Alan

Agree that water level photography really adds impact to the image, Very lucky here as the birds at Lake Geneva seem to take no notice if you are in the water in chest waders and swim straight past you-lovely light and pose of the bird

Dave

Hi Frederic

Cracking image - love everything about it!

David

Hi a very nice image indeed.

Phillip.

An outstanding image Frederic. Splendid composition. Careful with your life support though. Do I detect a slight list to the left?

An outstanding image Frederic. Splendid composition. Careful with your life support though. Do I detect a slight list to the left?

Fantastic image; the perspective makes this something really special.



Mark

Very very nice!!

Living on a small island I wonder if a sea going hide is a possibility...hmmm?

Nice one Frederic!

Andy

A cracking image

I think Fredereic you have shown and spelt out the magic of a floating hide to give several of us inspiration to float
Slightly of level but otherwise a very nice image.

Major.

WOnderful intereaction between these two. I hope one day to get something like this.

Hello Frederic

Wow this is brilliant I love everything about this shot the setting, the Birds, the light and of course the angle. I know how hard it is to work from a floating hide so hats of to you, when I took my hide to Norway and Sweden we travelled in a camper van for about 5 weeks and got the ferry so I didn't take it on a plane The beauty about working in this way is you can get such natural behaviour as your wonderful shot shows.



Danny

An intimate moment caught superbly.

An excellent image and story. Well done

Ian

Superb

mark