Exclusive Winter Photography at Bence Máté
Hardcore Winter Trip to Hungary
January 2–9, 2027
World-class wildlife photography – only six places
Would you like to photograph birds and animals from some of the world’s most advanced photography hides – both day and night? Then this is the trip for you.
In the heart of the Hungarian winter, Natur&Foto invites you to a truly special photography experience with world-renowned nature photographer Bence Máté. The facilities are unique in the world, and nowhere else offers the same opportunities to photograph so many exciting species at close range, at eye level and under carefully planned lighting conditions.
This is an exclusive and intensive winter trip for those who want to spend as much time as possible behind the camera. There are only six places available.
The MacGyver of Nature Photography
Bence Máté is one of the world’s most acclaimed nature photographers and a pioneer in the development of photography hides. He can rightly be called the MacGyver of nature photography.
Over many years, he has developed specially designed hides, camouflage and lighting setups that make it possible to get extremely close to birds and animals without disturbing them. Many of the hides are positioned right down at ground or water level, allowing you to photograph at the same height as your subject. This creates a sense of intimacy and a perspective that takes your images to an entirely different level.
Bence’s facilities are located in Kiskunság National Park, one of Hungary’s richest bird areas. During winter, he hosts a maximum of six photographers and one tour leader at a time. This means we will have the area and hides almost entirely to ourselves.
Photography Around the Clock
Natur&Foto has arranged several highly successful trips to Bence Máté in spring and summer. This time, we are travelling there in winter, when the landscape, light and animal behaviour offer completely different photographic opportunities.
All the hides are heated, allowing you to sit comfortably and warmly even when temperatures outside drop. Some hides are designed so that we can photograph and spend the night there.
And it is precisely the night that could become the most exciting part of the trip.
With carefully positioned artificial light sources, we can photograph elusive species such as otters, herons and cormorants in the darkness. The lighting creates dramatic images that would otherwise be extremely difficult to achieve.
There are also hides for roe deer and hares, where the subjects can be photographed in backlight. With a little cold and the right conditions, we may capture silhouettes, frost and mist in the first morning light.
Kingfishers, White-tailed Eagles and Action
In the kingfisher hide, there are usually several kingfishers that regularly come in to catch fish. Here, we photograph right at water level, with opportunities for both portraits, flight shots and action as the birds dive after their prey.
Other species we may encounter during the day include:
- Great bittern
- White-tailed eagle
- Grey heron
- White stork
- Water rail
- Common buzzard
- Great cormorant
- Roe deer
- Hare
- Various waterfowl, ducks, etc.
Which species we encounter will naturally vary depending on the weather and conditions. Winter nevertheless offers excellent opportunities for action photography, especially when birds gather around feeding sites and compete for live fish.
We may be lucky enough to get snow, frost and freezing temperatures. But regardless of the weather, the specially designed hides, low camera angles and professional setup will provide excellent opportunities to create powerful and unique images.
This is no ordinary photography trip. This is an intensive winter week for those who want to photograph as much as possible and experience wildlife photography at the highest level.
