Jure Novak

Jure’s journey into the world of birds and photography began on May 18th, 2007, when he discovered a book on Slovenian birdlife in his grandfather’s office. That very same day, his father – a biologist – took him on his first bird-watching trip. The spark was immediate. By Christmas that year, Jure had received his first camera, and a lifelong passion for wildlife photography was born.

Not long after, Jure began building his own hides, including a homemade floating hide he tested on a local pond. From that moment, he developed a deep love for photographing waterbirds from the water’s surface – an experience that became central to his work.

In 2021, Jure fulfilled his dream of becoming a full-time professional wildlife photographer, founding his own company to guide nature enthusiasts both locally in Slovenia and worldwide. His expertise has since taken him to diverse habitats across many countries, always with a keen eye for birdlife.

Jure has been using a Mr Jan Gear floating hide since 2018, and, as he puts it, “never wanted to switch to any other.” Each summer, he also leads exclusive small-group floating hide workshops in Slovenia’s unique marshlands, giving others the chance to experience the magic of photographing birds from the water.

Although his love spans from the alpine species of Slovenia’s high mountains to the coastal birds by the Adriatic, Jure’s greatest passion has always been for waterbirds. Floating hides, he says, remain the most rewarding photography experience of his career – and he still enjoys them as much today as when he first began.