Nature Photography Camp in Baks 2023
On 31.07.2023 our photo camp in Baks began.
During the week, the nature photographers of the Art Camp will visit different sites of the Southern Alföld, rich in natural values, starting from their accommodation in Baks.
During the one-week camp we will work on making insect portraits using layering techniques, as in previous years. We will also try to “catch” waterfowl in the Mártélyi Marsh, the Mórahalmi Buffalo Reserve, Lake Csaj and the Atka Lagoon, both from the shore and on the water.
In our camp, a new opportunity for the participants is the Bird Farm near Ópusztaszer, where we can capture species of birds around photo traps.
-Anna Pajor-Vincze, Szeged Group 2
One of the main drivers of our camp is to get young people to love nature. Tuesday was also a day in this spirit. We spent the morning at the fish ponds of the Csanytelek Fish Farm. We made our way to a nature reserve, where we were passed by the domestic buffaloes and saw lots of waterfowl. During the morning spent here, the children got a glimpse into the lives of guillemots, storks, waders, buckeyes and buffleheads, among others. Fortunately for us, the presence, extraordinary helpfulness and expertise of conservationist Tamás Nagy provided the curious visitors with solid background information. The observation of countless shorebirds, swans, summer geese and little egrets enriched the children’s species knowledge.
A hearty lunch followed in Kistelek, and then the group was split into several smaller teams for the afternoon. Some of the participants had the opportunity to take photos of hoopoes, artiodactyls, and birds arriving for drink or a bath. Those who went to the bird hide could wait in a hidden nest, half sunk into the ground. This type of nature photography requires patience and concentration. We sat and waited in silence for an hour. We waited and watched. Our reward for waiting was a beautiful turtle-dove (after 40 minutes) quenching its thirst. Our whole day was enriched by moving, interesting and inspiring experiences. On returning to our accommodation, we took a hot tub and discussed the day’s events and our upcoming activities. We are looking forward to the ferry trip, the boat trip to Martély, the fishing trip to Atka and the photo shoot.
-Roland Szabó, mentor, Nagybajom Group 2.
On Wednesday we started the day with a ferry ride. After breakfast, we headed to the Martély backwater to go boating and photograph waterfowl. After arriving, we split into small groups and after putting on our life jackets, we got into boats and then ventured into the wild and beautiful Martély water world. Among the more common species of birds (Mallard, Common Teal, Grey Heron) we managed to catch some of the more protected species (Brown Kite, Erne). We reached the shore exhausted and a hot lunch was enjoyed by all.
After some rest and refreshment, the ferry ride to Mindszet was next. We visited István Gera at the Bird House, who welcomed us warmly and with great enthusiasm. He showed us the Hoopoes lookout, from which we could photograph the birds without disturbance. István Gera, as an enthusiastic nature conservationist and ornithologist, gave an enjoyable talk about the life, habits and diet of our subjects. He also introduced us to the behind the scenes secrets of nature photography, while the hungry hoopoe chicks were getting their tasty snacks from their parents.
As the evening drew on, we returned to the Krónikás Inn to relax in a hot tub after dinner. As midnight approached, we summed up our experience on a floodlit porch, where an owl song bid farewell to the full moon night.
-Sebestyén Cirkos, volunteer
On Thursday, we continued our curiosity-driven journey through the wild landscapes of Csongrád-Csanád county. After breakfast, we set off with our small team so that the children could continue their nature photography work. One half of the group set off to take some wildlife photos. With the other half we hiked along the banks of the Dong River. In the shade of beaver-chewed trees, the children took macro photos. As we walked along the shore, countless owls, otters and salamanders announced that we were on the border of the property of one of the world’s most famous nature photographers, Bence Máté. After a delicious lunch, we headed to the Atka Lagoon. The Atka Lagoon is a relatively deep-water, fish-rich stretch of the Tisza. It has taken centuries to reach its present form following river regulation. Our team was given the opportunity to explore every corner of the lagoon on a boat trip. While they were boating and taking photos, our anglers were interrogating the fish stocks in the deep water. After an initial bite of carp, bream were reported and then the dwarf bass troops arrived. One catch followed another. Our anglers mainly used the method feeder technique, which did not disappoint. The sun was already dipping on the horizon when our photographers arrived from the boat trip and joined us.
Together we continued to fish for dwarf bass until we were fed up with the mosquito swarms.
In the evening we packed our bags and headed to the Fehértói Fish Hut in Szeged, where we had our last dinner of the week, a real Tisza fish soup. After that, it was just packing up and saying goodbye in the morning, so that everyone could go home and tell their experiences, the moments that made it worth coming and living them.
-Maja Sas, Jászság Group 4