Content:
Get up close to the beautiful Crested Grebes as they dance and fight for the right to mate in this workshop led by Mads Hagen.

The workshop is primarily designed to work with the crested loon, which is one of Denmark’s most beautiful birds. It has a host of photogenic behaviors from dancing across the water surface to fighting for territory with other crested loons. In addition, it may also be possible to get close to the species: Great egret, little grebe, troll duck and cormorant.

The workshop takes place from a flotation shelter, which means that we have to go into the water together with the scuba divers. Floating hides are a fantastic way to work because it allows you to get at eye level and incredibly close to the beautiful birds.

During the workshop we will:

• Learn to set up a floating hide.
• Learn how to move correctly in relation to the birds.
• Learn to predict behavior.

Location:
This workshop will be held in the Kalvebodløbet, Denmark, which is shallow and therefore very good for beginner photography from floating hide.

When is the best for this workshop?
You will achieve different results depending on when in the season you book. At the beginning of the season (end of March and through April) is characterized by dancing. This is where the territories are fought over and the photography will be very action-oriented at this time. From May to mid-June, most grebes will be nesting and the amount of action will slow down a bit. On the other hand, this period is good for portraits. From June onwards, the season will feature chicks, which for the first few days are sitting on the backs of the parents.

Meeting point:
We meet at Åmarken station, Copenhagen, at sunrise and walk from there together towards the location. The water is calmest in the morning and therefore the workshop will only be offered in the morning

Duration:
The duration of the workshop depends a lot on the water temperature. Early in the season, ie. in the middle of March the water is cold, and therefore you cannot be in the water for so long at a time (approx. 2-3 hours). Later in the season towards summer, a workshop can last around 4-5 hours.

Difficulty:
You do not need to have a vast knowledge of species or in-depth knowledge of waterfowl photography to participate in this workshop, but it is expected that you have the equipment to get started. From there we’ll probably figure it out together.

Language:
This workshop can be held in either danish or english. It is up to you:)

You have to bring:

• Waders.
• Camera + lens(300mm or more is recommended).
• Warm clothes beneath your waders!

Safety:
Safety first! Mads has an in-depth knowledge of the location and will guide you in what to do and what not to do when working from floating shelters. The water at the location is shallow and under normal wind conditions, there is no danger of us moving to places where we cannot reach the seafloor.

Weather:
This workshop is very wind dependent. If the wind is too strong, the animals become afraid of the floating hide and therefore Mads reserves the right to cancel in the event of strong winds. In case of cancellation by the organiser, you have the option of booking a new day or a full refund.