WallMag: What got you started in Wildlife Photography?

I'll thank my Uncle for that. He is currently a retired physics professor who was fascinated by wildlife. He is a hobbyist wildlife photographer. During my childhood days, every summer vacation, I used to hang around with him in my village or city outskirts. He took me to places like Ranthambore, Tadoba, etc. I never saw a tiger in my first two years of safari experience but, wildlife and photography always fascinated me. This made me start it as a hobby when eventually turned to passion and now a profession.

WallMag: How did you discover your style of photography? How would you describe your style?

After spending a considerable amount of time in the wildlife photography field, I realized that to stand out from others, one needs to be unique! Playing with different outdoor lighting and compositions always fascinated me. Gradually, I decided to move from usual portraits to chase the light in my photography. I love to include elements of nature such as flowers, rain, dramatic clouds, fog/mist, in my images. I love Golden hours and a huge fan of bokeh. So, I would call myself a Creative wildlife photographer.

WallMag: Who is your inspiration in Wildlife Photography and why?

Nature and animals are my inspiration. They have taught me a lot of things. Eventually, if you study animal behavior, you get to learn a lot from them. Also, when it comes to photography, Varun Aditya is my inspiration. His way of looking at the scene is totally different. I simply love his perspectives! He has given the wildlife world, a totally new perspective.

The most common and straightforward answer to this is the one that you can afford. There's nothing called as the best camera or best brand, no brand will manufacture a bad product. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, all are the same. Every camera has some limitations. You need to push your limit as a photographer to break the boundaries of your camera's capabilities.

But all said and done, you can start wildlife photography with any entry-level camera along with a lens that has a minimum focal length of 400mm or above.

WallMag: Is there one bird you'll happily photograph again and again?

Lesser kestrel, especially the male, is one bird that I can photograph my entire life. Lesser kestrel is a rare passage migrant to India but comes almost every year. It feeds on grasshoppers, locusts, and other insects. They are quite bold and beautiful. It's always fun to approach and photograph them. All you have to do is to win their trust, and they let you approach them as much as you want to, performing their regular activities. I have shots of lesser kestrel hunting, running, yawning, flying, taking off, all sorts of actions. I'm yet to get an interesting shot of the male, and I hope to get it soon.

WallMag: What are the difficulties faced by a wildlife photographer regularly?

Earning and making a living in this field is very tough. There is no market for it in our country. I don't earn from wildlife photography, I earn from conducting photography learning tours and mentoring people. Nowadays, there's a lot of competition in this too. Every other person will start his own tourism company. You have to be really good and unique to be in the market. Apart from this, people tend to hold a lot of grudges with each other in this field. If you are on a safari and when you see a tiger, you'll understand how competitive photographers are to get their own shot. They won't even give u space to position your jeep so that you can photograph it too. But you as a photographer need to be down to earth and helpful always!

WallMag: How do you plan a shoot?

One of the most important aspects before visiting any location for the shoot is to do the homework about that place. Find out the best time in the year to visit that place, the current wildlife activity/sightings in that area, the best zones/areas in that region, the best guides who know the location in and out, etc. I always book all my permits and guides well in advance so that I don't face any inconvenience at the last moment. I don't keep a specific routine for myself on the field, I try to shoot whatever I get from a different perspective. The key for me is to shoot in golden hours, chase the light, and position myself properly! Nail it, and you'll get your shot.

WallMag: Can you tell us about the most memorable wildlife photography experience and what made it so special?

It was the day I saw and photographed the rarest creature on this planet that was a semi melanistic black panther of Tadoba. It was a dream-come-true moment. I wanted to see a black panther from 2012, and it took me almost 8 years to witness one in the wild. Also, the image that I shot is still the best image of that individual from Tadoba to date among all the photographers who've captured it so far that's really special to me.

WallMag: What do you believe makes your wildlife images successful?

Unique compositions and storytelling. I don't refer my pictures as good or bad. I refer to them as Successful or Unsuccessful. If my image can convey a story to my audience, it is a successful image for me.

WallMag: In your opinion, what is more, important in wildlife photography, the gear, or the technique?

In my opinion, both are equally important. You need better gear to make a good picture. Better gear helps during challenging wildlife conditions such as low light, distractions, fast action, etc. But on the other hand, if you have the suitable gear and you don't know how to use it, it makes no sense of having it. A camera is just a tool for taking images, it boils down to the skills after all. Invest your time and money in learning photography and explore your camera to the fullest. Push the limitations, break the boundaries.

But all set and done, having suitable gear does play a vital role in a great picture.

WallMag: 'Patience is the key to wildlife photography.' How far do you agree with this statement? How much you have to wait to take a shot?

Absolutely it is! I don't really remember how many times I must have waited in one place for hours to get a shot that I want. As I mentioned about the black panther, it took me almost 8 years to capture it. Once in Bharatpur, I skipped my breakfast & lunch and waited at one place for 8 hours in the mud to get a captivating eye-level shot of the Cormorants fishing.

WallMag: What you would be looking for as a Jury in WallMag Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 in submissions?

I would love to see different kinds of creativity that participants can convey through their photographs. I will be looking for new perspectives and mesmerizing compositions. I would be delighted to look at images that convey a story, creates an impact on the viewer's mind and photographs that are extremely difficult to capture, such as the action shots.

Be yourself, Trust yourself, and your strong passion will never let you sit idle. Keep working on different ideas, keep chasing the light. Let light tell you the story of nature! Always Keep your creative hunger alive.

You can follow Kapil Sharma on Instagram to stay updated with his work.

You can also have a look at his Website.