Cherie Fish has been passionate about photography since childhood, but in recent years, she’s dove deeper into wildlife photography. She recently discovered floating hides and within months, she joined a photography tour in Kazakhstan and a workshop in the Camargue, France. Her story is about curiosity, quick learning, and falling in love with a new way of photographing wildlife.
Cherie met our ambassador, Yves Adams, by chance – in the middle of the Canadian woods. She was out looking for an owl near Ottawa when she started a conversation with Yves, who was guiding a tour there. Floating hides came up. Cherie had never heard of them.
“We were talking about our love of photography, the places Yves travels to, and the animals he photographs, when he said something about floating hides. I was like – wait, you get to be in the water? I love water! I was instantly fascinated.”
From curiosity to action
Not long after, Cherie reached out to us. By late winter, she had already ordered her own floating hide – even though the lakes in Ottawa were still frozen solid.
“I couldn’t wait. I set it all up in my basement to test it. But of course, there was nowhere to take it – all the water was ice. The Suit hadn’t arrived yet, so I bought waders and boots for when the time came.”
Her first actual hide outings came near the end of April. Just in time – by mid-May, she was heading off to two floating hide workshops : one in the vast steppe lakes of Kazakhstan (organised by Starling), and one in France’s reed-filled wetlands (hosted by Alexandra Martinez Photography).
First true experience: Camargue & Kazakhstan
Our floating hide ambassadors guided the trips – Yves Adams in Kazachstan and Alexandra Martinez in France. They introduced Cherie to the full experience.
“In Kazakhstan, almost everyone was new to floating hides. But we learned fast. For me, the biggest shift was learning to balance movement with stillness. I am the type to take action – but I quickly learned that patience is key – in the hide, you have to let the wildlife come to you.
There’s also the meditative aspect. You feel alone, in solitude – in a good way. I find it incredibly peaceful. The birds don’t know you’re there, so you can just blend into the moment.”
Her favourite subjects? No hesitation. “The grebes! Especially the Great Crested Grebe. Their colours are stunning. I also saw Black-Necked Grebes performing courtship dances – that was amazing! In Kazakhstan, Cherie found herself surrounded by a Black-Headed Gull colony. “It felt like a horror movie – wind, wings, and screeching gulls. I loved the intensity. I spotted many nests, chicks everywhere, and mama gulls tucking the little ones under their bellies.”
In the Camargue, Cherie fell for Black-Winged Stilts. “There were so many. I photographed a pair mating, but what fascinated me most was their affectionate behaviour afterward – it was like dancing, kissing, and snuggling.”
What you learn quickly
Cherie shares her early lessons from floating hide life:
- What to wear: “I thought I was warm enough. I wasn’t. After a few hours, your legs start to feel it. I almost got in trouble once in deeper water with waders. A drysuit and smart layers are key.”
- Finding spots: “At first, I didn’t think there were good places to go near me. But the more I talked with fellow birders, the more I discovered. You just need time to discover your surroundings.”
- Learning bird behaviour: “Understanding how birds move, where they’re likely to be, and their behavior makes a huge difference in your photography.”
When asked if learning floating hide photography is difficult, Cherie is quick to answer: “Not at all. There’s a skill to develop, but it’s not hard. You don’t need to be an athlete – just reasonably fit. If you do yoga, it helps! The only real limitation is mobility – you’re often crawling in a few inches of water, with mud underneath. But anyone can do it.”
She would recommend floating hide photography to any wildlife photographer, especially bird lovers. “There’s nothing like it. You’re in the water, waiting patiently and quietly. The sun rises, and something wild drifts into view. It’s intimate. Peaceful. Truly magical.”
Ready to try?
Don’t let cold feet or technical doubts hold you back. Floating hide photography is more accessible than it seems – and the rewards are truly special! Want to know more? Download our free floating hide e-book!
