Discovering Estonia: A Hidden Gem for Wildlife Photography

Alan Hewitt’s experience of a new photography hide

Never considered Estonia as your next destination for wildlife photography? Don’t worry, neither had we, until recently. But Sam Turley (wildlife photographer and Penda’s General Manager) and Alan Hewitt (wildlife photographer and workshop leader) just ventured to Estonia to check out a promising-sounding photography hide. And both the location and the hide surprised them – in all the good ways. Estonia is wild, wildlife-rich, and somewhat undiscovered. The photography hide is flexible, fully equipped, and ideally positioned. Below, Alan shared details of his experience.

“When we were first approached about including Estonia as a wildlife photography tour destination, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I knew of the fantastic state-of-the-art hide, but at this time, not a lot about the surrounding geography and habitat. Driving from Tallin was incredibly interesting. Estonia is a country of forests, marshes, and meadows, and this facilitates an incredibly diverse ecosystem including cranes, storks, foxes, bears, raccoon dogs and a variety of birds of prey and other beautiful avian fauna. It felt like we had found a hidden gem, and it’s one that more wildlife photographers should experience. That’s exactly why this new tour is so exciting.”

Join us in Estonia for a Bird of Prey Photography Workshop

Wildlife Riches in the Boreal Forest

“So, what can you expect to photograph during this wildlife photography tour? The species list is wonderfully diverse. From powerful raptors like white-tailed sea eagles, marsh harriers, buzzards, goshawks and sparrowhawks to beautifully coloured woodlandbirds like Eurasian jays, bullfinches, bramblings, siskins, woodpeckers, nuthatches and greenfinches some with subtle range restricted sub-species colour variations. We also enjoyed regular visits from foxes – beautiful animals in great condition and noticeably more bushy than those in the UK. The action from the hide can be fast, frenetic even, but definitely photographically rewarding.”

A Hide Like No Other

“This isn’t your typical wildlife hide. It’s a luxury setup, purpose-built for serious photography, yet very welcoming to those just starting their wildlife photography journey. There are multiple shooting angles and viewing points to work from, all inter-connected so nobody is isolated from the rest of the group and tour leader. The comfort level is, frankly, extraordinary. A heated interior and a kitchen equipped for hot meals with a fridge for cold drinks. A large HD screen for reviewing images or running post-processing sessions is the centre piece of a learning room. WiFi and height adjustable desks are very useful too. This is a place you can settle into for the long haul as the species come and go while the light evolves around the surroundings, waiting for those perfect wildlife photography moments.”

No Experience? No Problem.

“One of the best things about this workshop is that it’s open to everyone. Whether you’re new to wildlife photography or you’ve been chasing your perfect shots for years, you’ll feel right at home. I’ll be there to support you, whether you need help understanding camera settings, exposure, autofocus or fieldcraft advice and tips on composing more powerful wildlife images. You’ll learn at your own pace and have time, space and opportunities to put new techniques into practice without pressure.”

Recommended Gear

“If you’re wondering what to pack, here’s what I suggest. Firstly, your camera body (that’s obvious!) and a telephoto lens. Something in the 400mm–600mm range is ideal. A spare battery and memory cards are a must, and I’d recommend a laptop if you’d like some guidance on editing, reviewing and processing your photographs. But don’t let this be a barrier. Come with what you have as I’ll have my laptop anyway! The hide has a few gimbal type of tripod heads but you can also bring your own if you wish. Tripods and monopods are not necessary as there are plenty of tables.”

What You’ll Take Away

“Aside from great photos, I want people to leave this workshop as more confident photographers with skills that are transferrable to any wildlife photography location or habitat. Confidence in your camera settings, your ability to predict behaviour, your compositions. You’ll learn how to read the light, anticipate movement, and create visual stories, not just snap a sharp image. We’ll talk ethics, fieldcraft, editing, and more. Whether it’s your first workshop or your fiftieth, there’s always something new to discover when you’re immersed in nature with like-minded enthusiasts.”

Interested? Find out more about our upcoming trip to Estonia!