Bird Photography From my Hide - What an AMAZING Experience

[@EspenHelland]

I meant to say that you can get a 10% discount on Tragopan gear by visiting my website www.espenhelland.com and signing up to my email list.

[@miguelangelcabrerobravo8886]

Hi Espen, once sign up, how can we use the discount?

[@danieljohnston5306]

In the country building a fire...oh how I miss that. I was wondering if you take any precautions to limit clothing and ground cover noise? That hide looked cozy in that breeze!

[@EspenHelland]

Daniel Johnston yeah almost makes me miss winter again 🙂 other than lying really still and not getting too close I haven't really tried anything else to limit that type of noise. I try to get everything I might need within easy reach before birds show up so I don't have to unzip bags or anything while they're there.

[@nige123baggy]

Brilliant film Espen. Thanks so much for sharing it. This is the type of activity that I would love to do but unfortunately my health won’t allow. Your shots are amazing. Thank you once again 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much for the encouraging comment Nigel! This type of photography is definitely my favourite 🙂

[@jillianhorsley5985]

Darn that dog walker, enjoyed watching and a nice shot at the end...thank's.

[@EspenHelland]

🤣 I know right! Thank you Jillian 🙂

[@trondwestby]

Really nice video Espen! I am now starting to look forward to be on lek myself :) Thanks for the video.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Trond! Can't wait to see some Norwegian leks in action :)

[@markharris5771]

I don’t envy you all, not even a tiny bit, nope not at all why should I? Pardon? What was that? Me in denial? Never!! That has to be one of the greatest experiences in British wildlife. Well done you lucky lucky man, you got some stunning shots. This is one of those things I am highly unlikely to ever experience. Even though this lek was close to a path, those paths tend not to be scooter accessible or not accessible for my wife as she struggles with uneven or stones ground. So I thank you very much for making this video and sharing the experience with us.

[@EspenHelland]

🤣 - Thank you very much Mark! Really nice to hear that you can get something out of the experience through my video 🙏

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Great stuff Espen. Was going to ask which hide you were using, but I see your link now. I might try that out some time.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Paul, yeah I'm using the Hokki ground hide by Tragopan. Funny. actually just sent you an email about it 😅👍🏻

[@richardharvey1732]

Hi Espen, I've just watched two or three of your videos, all for the first time, I really like the way you talk and your easy, relaxed and informative style. I have been following a number of landscape and wildlife shooters on various channels, Thomas Heaton and Kin Grant spring immediately to mind, each have their particular style, some such as you really draw us in to your experience, and I have quite recently come to understand that , for me , it is the experience of going out with my camera that is what I do it for, the results, the pictures, are almost irrelevant!. I am particularly impressed by the way you manage to include details about your camera and settings, and observations of whats around you. When and if you read this you might realise that we are not strangers already!, but as far as everybody else is concerned the words 'Alex's uncle' will mean nothing. Keep up the good work!. Cheers, Richard, (Cambridge).

[@EspenHelland]

Hi Richard! Thank you very much for the kind feedback. I agree that it's the experience of going out that really matters, important to keep in mind on days when the photography isn't going as planned. Give my best to Janet. Hopefully see you guys soon 🙂

[@RRNaturePhotography]

Beautiful job again Hespen, and what a wonderful experience. 👌

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Rich! Can't beat being so close to wildlife 🙂

[@touchedbynature5445]

Enjoying your videos very much, thank you, inspiring and informative.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank again Paul! Really appreciate your feedback :)

[@getoutsidewithmiguel]

Enjoyed thoroughly, what an experience.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Míguel!

[@RadioShackSeven]

Brilliant vlog Espen, there is a lek not far from me and I am hoping to get some shots in the next few weeks.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Dan! That's brilliant, best of luck!

[@VideoNatur]

An exciting video, narrated realistic! I love your vids!!!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much!

[@J_bar_S_Photography]

That’s absolutely amazing sir! We don’t have those birds where I live but this video has motivated me to get out today and film and photograph something. Awesome. Thank you sir!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Benjimen! If I inspired you to go out and create something today, that's about the best compliment I can get 👌🏻

[@J_bar_S_Photography]

@@EspenHelland Heck yea. I went out yesterday and setup camp. Got up this morning and waited on something to photograph. Nothing showed up but it was nice just being out there in the woods just listening to everything.

[@knutfugl]

Wonderful Video. Enjoyed watching.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Knut!

[@govindathompson2043]

Wonderful video, and amazing shots!!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Govinda!

[@GeoffCooper]

Awesome experience you've captured there - so lucky to find a lek! This video was emotionally difficult to watch though - it's bad enough needing to get a coffee when Morten Hilmer has one, but when you lit a nice fire and cracked open a beer, it was nearly too much ;) Excellent work!

[@EspenHelland]

🤣🤣🤣That's brilliant! Thanks Geoff :)

[@OAPMrTickle]

Typical weather for Cumbria xD I lived there for 6 years after getting married to a Lancashire lass but never managed to see any black grouse despite hearing them! Something to try and rectify on my next visit at easter. Brilliant photo's ;) I'm looking forward to your next video to inspire me.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Showa! A shame you never got to see them. The ones I photographed are quite easy to find. Send me an email or DM me if you want some more info.

[@gurunath1710]

Gorgeous bird, beautiful images. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to click them sometime.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Gurunath! I hope you do, such a great spectacle to see :)

[@jarmilakacirkova]

I accidentally discovered your channel. It's full of great videos. I am also interested in photography and filming in the Czech Republic. I'm sure to be a regular visitor to your channel, I'm a subscriber. Greetings are sent by Jarmila

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Jarmila! The Czech Republic looks like a great place for wildlife. Well done on capturing the cuckoo being fed on film! Something I'd like to capture one day 🙂

[@CJamesPhoto]

Excellent video mate! well done, I have always wanted to photograph them.. Sucks about the people walking through so i hope you get another chance. as you said it will be getting lighter so the chance is there 😊 Also im quite surprised how good images look with the 100-400.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much James! Yes will definitely not be my last time. The 100-400 has been amazing, I'm often surprised myself at how sharp some images come out 🙂

[@CJamesPhoto]

@@EspenHelland Awesome! and yeah i remember that when I had the Nikon 100-400, pretty great when its right... I think iv been pleased with all 100-400mm lenses on most cameras.. But still something about having a prime that kicks ass 😅

[@EspenHelland]

CJamesPhoto ahh one day soon I hope 🙂 can't wait!

[@JohnFormstone]

Thanks for sharing a great experience! 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks for checking it out John!

[@ZaberAnsaryOfficial]

Awesome video espen. Would you recommend getting a monopod for wildlife videography? I still shoot photos handheld 100% but the videos that I sometime shoot are too shaky. Tripods on the otherhand are very cumbersome and just too much to setup.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Zaber! To be honest I use whatever I have at hand. The canon 100-400 m2 has an amazing image stabilisation on it so often I film hand held. Monopod is a great option that a regularly use, my tripod handily turns into a monopod. Often I'm lying down so I'll just use my beanbag. Probably just depends how you shoot the most, if you're standing a lot I think monopod would be the best option yes 🙂

[@scriptosaurusrex]

Do tragopan have a discount code for your subscribers? Feel like that may be something worth suggesting, even if it is only a small one. That would also give them realtime insight into how many hides they are shifting thanks to your channel :) Lovely video as always. Love me some black grouse (well, any grouse species really....)

[@EspenHelland]

Scriptosaurus rex thank you! And thanks for the reminder, I meant to say that in this video and I completely forgot. I've been given a 10% discount code which is available on my website www.espenhelland.com if you sign up to my email subscription (you can always unsubscribe right after if you don't want to receive them). I'll make sure I mention it in the next video. 👍🏻

[@scriptosaurusrex]

@@EspenHelland great, thanks! :)

[@rowinvandenberg7365]

Great photos! Are you using the 400 f5.6 L from Canon for this? Or the 100-400?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Rowin! I'm using the 100-400mm :)