WallMag: How did you get started with wildlife photography?

It was the love for nature that made me choose Wildlife Photography. As a child, I was always fascinated by the stories of Jungle Book. I vividly remember watching the animated series on DD National and the song ‘Jungle Jungle pata chala hai…’ Later, keenly watching the series ‘Earth Matters’ by India’s legendary wildlife film-maker Mike Pandey inspired me a lot. I started observing birds as a child during summer holidays in my native village and later photographed butterflies using my father’s small digicam. As time progressed, this hobby became a passion as I understood more about nature through photography. That’s what drove me to pursue a career in Nature and Wildlife Photography. Before doing this full-time, I was a Media professional working in a Production House in Mumbai.

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

There is no single person or thing that is my inspiration. I draw my inspiration from many places and many amazing personalities. There have been different people at different times in my journey who have helped me become a better Wildlife Photographer and a better person. Documentaries like the ‘Life’ series, Planet Earth, Planet Earth 2, and Our Planet have had a huge impact on my mind as I grew up. I have always got inspired by looking at the work done by National Geographic Wildlife Photographers like Paul Nicklen and Steve Winter. In India, I consider BBC Wildlife Film-maker and National Geographic Explorer Sandesh Kadur to be my inspiration. I had the rare opportunity to work with him for a few months. He has always acted as a mentor to me in my career. I have always admired the work of my fellow Wildlife Photographers and Seniors in the field, who have inspired me with their breath-taking photographs. My parents and friends that support me in all my endeavors are also responsible for the success that I have got. Lastly, no one has inspired me to love nature more than Sir David Attenborough. He is a true legend, who even at this age is trying to do his bit for saving nature. He has been an inspiration to many generations of nature lovers and Wildlife photographers and Film-makers. When I hear his soothing voice in my ears, I always experience the love that he shares for nature.

WallMag: What kind of equipment you use now, and what did you start with?

I started my journey with a small Canon Digicam gifted by my dad, only later did I get my first DSLR, which was a Canon 600D and kit lens and a mid-range zoom lens. Only after I understood the equipment in-depth and used it to its limits, I decided to upgrade.

Right now, I am using a Nikon D810 and Nikkor 200-500 mm as my primary kit for doing long-range wildlife photography. I also use a Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 lens for doing macro work and a Tokina 16-28 mm f/2.8 for taking wide-angle shots. Along with that, I do aerials with the DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone. These gadgets are supported by several accessories like tripods, flashes, diffusers, external lights, etc. to get the aspired results. But even after owning these gadgets, it doesn’t mean you become a good photographer overnight. It requires an immense amount of effort, hard work, and dedication to making good images. You always have to share a passion for your art and express creativity through your work.

WallMag: Can you share your achievements in life regarding photography?

There have been many special moments and achievements along the way. To list a few, I have won the prestigious Thane Mayor’s Trophy for Wildlife Photography in Aavishkaar 2016, a photography competition organized by Thane Municipal Corporation and Foto Circle Society. I have also won the 2nd Prize in Raju Harkare Memorial, National Level Photography contest 2019, organized by Srushti Paryavaran Mandal. I have secured 1st place in Nature and Environment Society of Thane (NEST) India’s All India Nature Photography Contest 2020 and also 1st place in Bonoria National Level Photography Contest 2020. Recently, I have also secured 1st place in the Wildlife Week Photography Contest organized by Mumbai Zoo and BMC. I have also been published by Sanctuary Asia, Nature inFocus, and Lonely Planet India on their digital and print platforms. My photograph of the ‘Golden Tiger’ went viral all over the internet and has been published by many leading news channels, print media, and digital media platforms.

WallMag: Can you please share one "Precious Moment in your Photography life"?

I think the most precious moment in my Wildlife Photography Life till now has to be the special sighting of a rare color morph of the Royal Bengal Tiger – The Golden Tiger in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. This Tigress has been claimed as the only individual existing in the Wild in the 21st Century. And I was extremely lucky to capture this Tigress, a total of 6 times on my camera. I was extremely over-whelmed after seeing that amazing and unique animal and was happy that the photographs I had taken went viral all over the internet and were picked up by almost all leading news agencies in India. I was very touched by the heartfelt messages I received from all quarters, especially when people whom I didn’t know personally were congratulating me after the sighting. But the sighting was not a sign of joy. It was a sign of utmost concern because this occurrence is believed to be caused, due to recessive genes in individuals, as a result of inbreeding.

In the wild, this is caused due to excessive inbreeding with fragmented populations, caused by habitat destruction and loss of connectivity. This means the Tigers in Kaziranga National Park are inbreeding due loss of connectivity of Kaziranga with other Tiger areas. The image has sparked conversation regarding Tiger Corridors and Tiger conservation. Only if there are more Tiger corridors, tigers can move beyond their home ranges and breed with Tigers in other protected areas.

WallMag: What are the techniques you use while photographing?

I use a variety of techniques to get photographs that I desire. I usually try to approach a subject after understanding its behavior and making it comfortable with my presence. I do approach certain subjects in my car because the subjects are more comfortable with a vehicle coming close to them, than a human walking directly towards them. I usually take safe shots first and then move towards taking some creative angles and perspectives. I will always take a wider perspective after I am done taking a close-up of the subject to include its habitat in the picture. Sometimes when I can’t get close or I desire to get a unique perspective then I use a remote trigger technique to shoot the subject. I also love to photograph in back-light in the early morning and evenings to get some unique images. Having a sturdy tripod helps you take sharp images, as well as helps you shoot at a lower shutter speed. I usually keep a low profile so that I don’t scare the animals away.

WallMag: When on a Safari, do you look for specific species, if so how would you recommend preparing for that?

India has a wide variety of Wildlife. We are a country blessed with nature. India is a land of diverse cultures, languages, people, landscapes, and climate. All that is reflected in India’s Wildlife. We have different and unique habitats in every part of the country. And these habitats give rise to a diverse range of species. So whenever I go for a safari or plan a trip, I always study what kind of species I am going to encounter on that particular trip or safari. If I am going to Central Indian Forests, then I will look for Big Cats like Tigers and Leopards, Sloth Bears, Indian Wild Dogs, etc. I will study the birds found in those jungles. I will also look for lesser fauna which is found in those habitats. The same goes for trips that I plan to the Himalayas, North East India, South India, or the Deserts and grasslands of Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is very important to understand the dynamics of the habitats and also study the wildlife and its behavior, even before going to the field.

WallMag: Can you share your most challenging shot?

The most challenging shot for me till now has to be the wide-angle perspective of the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher. It was a very difficult shot to execute, and I took more than three weeks to achieve the desired results. My vision was to show the habitat of the Kingfisher along with its behavior and its beautiful colors. And, also wanted to create an intimate relationship with the viewer by getting a close perspective of the bird along with a wider background. The main challenge was to get the bird comfortable with the presence of the camera near it. I first created a box and covered it with vegetation and placed it in such a way that it doesn’t look too intruding. Once the bird got comfortable, I placed the camera inside the box. It was a process of trial and error because the camera was being triggered remotely. Only after many failed attempts did I get a satisfactory shot.

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

Wildlife Photography is not an easy task. It requires immense patience and perseverance along with a passion, to get the best of photographs. It does come with its challenges. Not every day does a wildlife photographer get those amazing shots. There are many days we do not get anything fruitful because it all depends on nature. We do not control any elements other than our camera. One more difficulty that we face is shooting in available light. The external environment is constantly changing, and we have to adapt to it. We also do not always see wild animals when we are shooting outside. Nature is unpredictable. We have to spend a few hours or a few months to just get a glimpse of the animals we are photographing. We also have to master our camera and cannot wait to change settings if the subject is in front of us or a rare wildlife moment is unfolding in front of us because everything happens in a matter of seconds. Not all of us can spend our lives in the wilderness and have to face the reality of modern life as well. We have to manage time between shooting, post-processing, planning future trips, looking at images online, and staying motivated. Most of us are not doing this full time, so there is a challenge of balancing our normal job and our passion for wildlife photography. We also have to spend a lot of money buying new equipment and going on trips, but there is very less monetary benefit out of doing pure wildlife photography.

WallMag: In your opinion, How important is getting your work recognized through photography awards and contests as a wildlife photographer?

As a wildlife photographer, we always strive to get exposure in this field. We want to showcase our best work in front of a big audience. We do use social media to reach our family and friends. But if we want to reach a larger audience then it is very important to enter competitions and showcase our work in photography exhibitions. Winning in Photography awards and contests helps a photographer to build confidence and encourages him/her to do more good work. It also helps the photographer to show his best work in front of industry stalwarts. It also brings in new opportunities for photographers. Sometimes, the photographer may get monetary benefits after winning contests in form of a prize. It is very essential to boost the morale of talented but not so famous photographers.

WallMag: Was there ever a moment you thought you were to close to the action. Can you describe that incident in particular?

Yes, I have had one of the most amazing experiences watching a Tigress drag a wild boar kill that she made in the morning and then taking it to her favorite spot to eat. Getting Tiger with kill is a holy grail for all Wildlife Photographers. I was very amazed to get this Tigress with Kill. I consider it to be one of the most thrilling and mesmerizing moments of my life. We followed this Tigress for more than half an hour and got the sequence of her dragging the kill. We also witnessed her feeding on the kill. I was literally very close to the action at that moment.

WallMag: What is typically in your camera bag while you go out for shooting natural wildlife. Please share images of your photography gears.

My Camera bag consists of the following –

Nikon D810 DSLR Camera

Nikkor 200-500 mm f/5.6 lens

Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 lens

Tokina 16-28 mm f/2.8 lens

Godox TT685 External Flash

Beetle Diffuser for Macro work

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone

Vanguard Alta Pro 2 Tripod with Ball Head

Fluid Video Head

Joby Gorilla Pod

Orion 8x42 Binoculars

A powerful torchlight

A boom mic to record audio

My Smartphone – One Plus 6

WallMag: What animal/bird would you most like to capture that you haven’t already?

I would like to photograph two Big Cats – The Snow Leopard and The Black Panther (Melanistic Leopard) in the future if I get the chance. I would also like to document smaller species of Wild Cats like the Clouded leopard, Rusty Spotted Cat, Golden Cat, and Marbled Cat. Reptiles like the Hump-nosed Pit Viper, Green Rat Snake, Pope’s Pit Viper are also on my wish-list. I would love to document some rare frogs in the Western Ghats as well if I get a chance.

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

The Red Panda is one animal that l will happily photograph again and again. I was lucky enough to see and photograph this beautiful and cute animal in the Eastern Himalayas after days of trekking there. But I would really love to see and photograph again and again because it’s one of my favorite animals.

WallMag: What are your top tips for capturing wildlife in its natural habitat?

If you’re pursuing wildlife photography, then try to become a good naturalist first. Try to understand animal behavior and research about your subjects before venturing out in the field. You also need to develop a good amount of patience when photographing animals in the wild. You have to keep in mind that the safety and well-being of wild animals are more important than your photograph. Don’t venture too close to animals that might feel threatened. Always try to blend with nature by wearing camouflaging clothes, this will help you achieve a significant amount of closeness with any species. If you’re shooting birds or animals on the ground, then go down to their level by lying down on the ground, it will give you a good DOF. Let the animal come close to you rather than you chasing the animal constantly, this will help you capture their natural behavior. In the end, just respect nature and all the wild species because we are in their space, and we are not above them.

WallMag: What keeps you motivated?

It’s the love for mother nature that always keeps me motivated. Nature has the power to surprise you at every turn, and observing nature unfolds itself in front of my eyes keeps me motivated. I also get motivation and inspiration by looking at work done by my fellow and senior photographers in the field. Looking at their photographs on social media or in competitions and contests keep me motivated. I always follow the right set of people like Natgeo Photographers, Photojournalists, Magnum Photographers who have spent years in the field doing their job. I always look at my images and think about ways that could improve them. I try to push boundaries with new techniques and don’t worry about making mistakes because they are a crucial part of becoming a better photographer.

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

You need to develop a good amount of patience when photographing animals in the wild. I completely agree with the statement. Sometimes I have to wait for hours and sometimes even days to just get a glimpse of an animal on the field. There are times when you lose all hope of seeing anything on the field, but having patience is very important in those times. You should have an immense amount of patience and be flexible about things. Because things will always go wrong, you will face many challenges while photographing your subjects. But calmly handling these situations will help you make the best photographs.

WallMag: Could you please describe your experience of participating in WallMag Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 and marking your presence as top 3rd winner? What tips would you like to give to upcoming participants?

I feel extremely happy that my image of the Greater Adjutant Storks has been chosen as the top 3rd winner in the wildlife photography category of WallMag Photography Awards 2020. It was a tough competition because many contestants had given some of their best work. I feel good that an image showing the importance of Conservation was chosen as a winner. I would like to thank the organizers and the esteemed judges for choosing my image amongst many good images. I would like to tell upcoming participants that it is very important to have creativity and Imagination. Photography is an art form, and a good photographer should be able to look at something ordinary or even extra-ordinary and find different ways to interpret it through his art. And he/she should be able to tell stories about wildlife through their photographs. Don’t just take a pretty picture, but also show the reality of today’s times through the images that you make. And don’t forget to put these images in the right channels like WallMag Photography Awards because they will give you and your images the exposure you deserve. 

 You can follow Mayuresh Hendre on Instagram or visit his Youtube Channel to stay updated with his work.

You can also have a look at his Winning Photography Submission at WallMag Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 .