Photography from chair hides

[andrewinpompey]

I'm thinking of getting a chair hide for wildlife photography (birds, deer etc.), but was wondering about some of the practical aspects of photographing from them. (I've searched some other recent posts here, but haven't found exactly what I'm after.)

For a lot of wildlife photos you obviously want to be quite low to the ground, to blur the background etc. Is there enough room to lie on the ground in a chair hide (either a one- or two-man one) as the chair could obviously get in the way?

I'm also wondering about taking photos to either side, left and right. Generally chair hides seem to have one or two windows on each of the sides, but I'm wondering if there is room to photograph out of these (if you see something on that side), without your whole lens projecting out of the hide and the movement or just its size scaring off what you wanted to photograph.

If these are both problems, then I guess the types of hide in which you can stand up would be better, at least for situations where animals could come at you from several directions. Thanks for any comments.

Andrew

[StephenD]

Hi Andrew

I cannot offer any advice but I am looking at exactly the same thing and had the same questions. So any responses would be useful.

Not sure if you are from the Midlands but I have started a new group for Midland wildlife photographers.

Steve

[Tormentil]

I had look at a chair hide at a recent photography fair. You'll certainly not be able to lie down, in either the one or two chair versions, as the chair is very much an integral part of the whole.

However, they are not very high, as the "chair" is one of those fold up types one sees in various gardening/camping stores.

The version (one chair), I saw had "windows" front, left and right, and there seemed to be more room in than I imagined just from looking at it from the outside.

That's about all I recall of having a sit it in one.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by StephenD

Hi Andrew

I cannot offer any advice but I am looking at exactly the same thing and had the same questions. So any responses would be useful.

Not sure if you are from the Midlands but I have started a new group for Midland wildlife photographers.

Steve

Whats the name of the group Steve?

[pressld2]

I decided against a chair hide for two reasons:

1. As you've already realised you can't really lie down in one and
2. I've heard that every time you shift your position in the chair, which you're bound to do if you're in it for any length of time, the whole hide moves

I went for a pop-up hide and a seperate camping chair. Means two bits of kit to lug around but I think it's probably the best solution.

Dave P.

[welshcameraman]

Well, after reading Simon Kings review of the two man chair hide, and considering the price it seemed a good bet.

My Kit Box Camouflage Hide Chair 2 Man

It actually arrived on Thursday. The two things I have noticed straight away is how big it is when packed..though it comes in a rucksack sort of pack which you can carry on your back, it still does look a handful when added to the other photographic kit that needs to be taken into the field. And secondly, how quickly it goes up...very, VERY fast, within seconds of taking it out of the box I had it up and was sitting in it, all be it in the lounge.

There are plenty of viewing ports, one large one at the front, that can be adjusted to a sort and two either side. Mr King says he uses a two man for himself and kit and I can understand why. For two burly guys it could be a bit on the "comfy" side..lol..

I understand the reasons for the dome hides, but at more than twice the price, I reckon this could be a really good compromise....we'll see

Martin

[StephenD]

Hi Boddie

I have called it the:

Midlands Wildlife Photography Group

Steve

[Firefox]

hi,
is it a chair hide your looking for.(the one simon king used) if it is you can buy it at: Nature Gear | Photography Hides | Outdoor Clothing | Country Wear | Nature Hides

infact it looks so good that im thinking of getting one! lol

[welshcameraman]

Yes thats the one, though it is also available from other dealers as well.
Can't see me getting much use out of it until the snow recedes, but will post my thoughts on it once used properly.

Martin

[andrewinpompey]

Thanks for the very useful comments/advice.

I was heading for a tall 'outhouse' type hide, until I read Simon King's comments about the chair hide. But the thing about the whole hide moving when you shift your weight slightly is a big issue.

You can get the taller hides (without integral seats) for £70-90, not much more chan the chair hides - e.g. on eBay. But they seem to be around 2m high, which is a bit too big for me (from the point of view of people spotting it, apart from anything else - I'd much rather blend into the background!). The dome type hides that Wildlife Watching Supplies do seem better - their mini dome hide is only 95cm high - but that is about £200! Hard to choose...

[Connor7]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Whats the name of the group Steve?

Here is that group link if anyone wants to join,

Wild About Britain - Midlands Wildlife Photography Group

[snake]

Hi,
I bought the two man chair hide as used by Simon King a few months ago.
I wouldn't really call it big enough for two large people but its perfect for one person along with plenty of gear.
It's really easy to carry, it comes in a bag designed like a ruck sack, it takes only a few minutes to set up and take down and with a bit of thought when siting it, it really works.
With regards to it's stability, I had a few extra loops sewn onto the skirt of the hide. I also found the pegs that are supplied to be totally inadequate and made some longer and heavier ones which I push in with my feet.
These few simple alterations improved its stability enormously and there is very little movement when you shift your position inside.
Apart from this it is very well designed, there are facilities to photograph from not just the front but from either side and it is very comfortable to use.
A flask of tea, a few sarnies and it will keep you quiet for hours.

[wrogers]

Just thought i would pop in...

I started a thread a while back on hides...

I am looking a the Hub System Hide from stealth nature gear. (Si king tried one too)
looks like you can lie down in one, and there is a fair bit of room...
only problem is it is a bit on the big side....

i am trying to find one to have a look at.

might solve some problems though.

Will

[StephenD]

Hi

Looks good I wish they would show collapsing it.

Steve

[welshcameraman]

I used my 2 man chair hide properly for the first time on Monday. Went with jonsphotos for a day out in Pembrokeshire.

First thing I noticed was although it comes in a bag that has a rucksack type of carrying system this was rendered useless as I also had a Lowepro vertex 200 which I had on my back. So I then put my tripod into the hide bag and carried it under my arm with one of the straps slung over a shoulder. I am quite a fit bloke, but I did start to feel it after a couple of hundred yards, and then we had quite a steep 100 metre climb up a muddy bank, lets just say I was panting a bit.

Erecting it was still quite easy though, and considering we were on a bank with no level ground at all, was impressive. The pegs that came with it were ok, but I never felt completely secure, that said considering the ground we were on that was of no surprise.

2 man????? I am really not sure about 2 men. Maybe on perfectly flat ground..like a lawn. As it was, getting in with just a camera ( eos 1d on a 055XPROB tripod) was hard enough on my own, how you could get 2 guys in there without a real struggle is beyond me, and then I reckon it would be to cramped for comfort.

All that said, once set up, I was reasonably comfortable ( I did end up sitting on the edge and in the middle of the chair a lot of the time) snug and out of the wind, had really good views all around and got very close to the birds. Though Jon, who had come with just a camo net and a stool, got equally close, with a much lighter set up, but he did look cold outside..lol.

I would say, it is far from perfect, but at under £100 and although not essential, its a handy bit of kit and well worth the cost and the effort. That said, with summer coming,I am going to get myself a camo net and stool...lol

Taken on Monday.




Martin

[Jonsfotos]

I agree with Martin, it may be classed as a two person hide but in reality it`s suitable only for one i.m.o. Don`t get me wrong, it`s an impressive bit of kit, easy to set up and it works, but it looked when folded up, a bit on the heavy side for lugging any great distance .I found setting up some camo netting between a couple of small saplings was just as effective in this case although obviously no two venues are the same and more effective means of camouflage may be required when frequenting other areas.
It was comfortable inside even though i was perched between the two chairs to enable me to get the images i wanted.It would be ideal for level ground but the areas i frequent are a bit on the hilly side and obviously it would not work.Would i get one??....mmmm!, still undecided at the moment, but like i said earlier, an impressive bit of kit.

Jon.

[RyanEustace]

I have just purchased a wws mini dome hide for £60 bargain , i was wondering if anyone has had any experience with one?

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by RyanEustace

I have just purchased a wws mini dome hide for £60 bargain , i was wondering if anyone has had any experience with one?

I don't have any experience of it but it looks like you've got a very good bargain there. Is this the one they have on sale for £216.81?

Wildlife Watching Supplies - Mini Dome Hide


I'm not questioning the quality of the items but their prices seem an absolute rip-off to me!

[RyanEustace]

Yeah i got that and one of their fold up camoflage padded seats for £80 , i never really had any intentions of buying a hide , but for that price you cant say no.

[andrewinpompey]

Wow - £60, that is a bargain! Don't suppose there are any more

I've wondered about some of the cheaper hides that you see on eBay, where the fabric looks quite shiny - maybe it is things like that that WWS earn their money on??

[PMG]

Originally Posted by RyanEustace

I have just purchased a wws mini dome hide for £60 bargain , i was wondering if anyone has had any experience with one?

Defo a bargain - we paid double that many years ago for the same thing - but - it has a couple of drawbacks: at my age and size I would now struggle getting into it - it wouldn't be impossible if it meant I was going to get pics of something I wanted - but it would be a struggle! And the other thing is the material of ours is not very thick and not coated or treated on the inside so when the sun is out your silhouette shows very clearly and resulted in me throwing a car blanket (green and black plaid) over it - which completely negates the business of being hidden in camo!

Maybe they are now being made with thicker material? If not and you are serious about getting some use of out I would consider some cheap black material from somewhere and depending on your sewing skills - either making a cracking job of lining at least the top half of the panels - or at least taking roughly the black material shapes to the inside of it ...........

Pauline

[PMG]

Originally Posted by snake

Hi,
I bought the two man chair hide as used by Simon King a few months ago.
I wouldn't really call it big enough for two large people but its perfect for one person along with plenty of gear.
It's really easy to carry, it comes in a bag designed like a ruck sack, it takes only a few minutes to set up and take down and with a bit of thought when siting it, it really works.
With regards to it's stability, I had a few extra loops sewn onto the skirt of the hide. I also found the pegs that are supplied to be totally inadequate and made some longer and heavier ones which I push in with my feet.
These few simple alterations improved its stability enormously and there is very little movement when you shift your position inside.
Apart from this it is very well designed, there are facilities to photograph from not just the front but from either side and it is very comfortable to use.
A flask of tea, a few sarnies and it will keep you quiet for hours.

I've finally decided and plumped for the two man chair type too. The one man looked too small: I did see them at Martin Meres Bird Fair last year and thought about it, then thought some more! Now today I've decided as we already have a large Ameristep pop-up (which I love and can handle perfectly on my own despite its size!) and its size is a bonus for someone my size - I can move around and stretch my legs out when I get frequent cramp and carry its weight as well as a huge back-pack - tho not very far!

I suspected the two man chair to be heavy along with everything else but his nibs should manage it and lets face it - a chair to sit in can be much more comfortable than a stool and the other chair to keep the pack and gear off a potentially muddy or watery floor is worth its weight in gold ....... maybe we will end up fighting over it after all

Pauline