Photo hides
We have 14 photo hides in Kuhmo at the moment, and two in the Kuusamo area for eagles. Most hides in Kuhmo are for bears, wolves, wolverines and eagles. However, two are for birds (capercallie, black grouse, crane, whooper swan, goose and other water birds).
All our hides look a bit different, some are rather big and ‘luxurious’ (as far as a photo hide can be luxurious), others are rather small for individual photography or filming. There is no tripod needed in a hide, since there is a device for installing your ball-head, which you’ll screw into a wooden board. In front of your camera there will be an opening in the tissue, through which you’ll put the lens outside.
From Kuikka base camp, we are going to take you to the hides. Usually, we leave after dinner at around 5 p.m. and turn back in the other morning, leave the hides at 8 a.m. and eat breakfast at 9 a.m. It is also possible to leave the hide during the darkest time, in order not to disturb other photographers. It can take a 20 to 150 meters walk from the parking lot to the hides. However, we’ll pleasantly offer you a ride by snowmobile in case of physical hindrance. Many hides are situated in the wetland, others in the forest. For those in the wetland, you’ll need rubber boots to reach them, although there are wooden paths leading through the deep bog. Before entering a hide, you are requested to take off your shoes, since you’ll sleep on the soft hide floor. Except for the hot summer season, it can be cold at night, therefore there are sleeping bags in the hides.
When waiting in the hide for animals, we need to be very quiet and only whisper, because the animals are very shy and fearful. Often times, they check the ‘studio’ long before they appear on the open bog. Bears usually undertake a 360° circle around the area before they dare to come out. Wolves are even more fearful, we need to observe the animals well when they approach the carcass. Wolverines are more cheeky, but even those are afraid of camera flash light. When photographing birds, eagles especially, it is needed to avoid brusque movements with the lens, since they have a very good eye.
Lens
Concerning the lens length in the hide, 300 to 600mm plus converters are useful. Lassi also uses the 200mm lens for landscapes and animals in the foreground. Some bears or wolverines can be very close, up to 5 to 10 meters from time to time, but usually they are between 50 and 200 meters to the hides.