WallMag: How did you get started with wildlife photography?

Well, I used to travel a lot after moving to Bangalore, and I had a basic point & shoot camera that I used to carry everywhere. I remember it was in 2009, I visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve (of Karnataka) with my friends, and it was my first visit to any national parks. The forest was lush green after the monsoon, and literally, I fell in love with that beauty at the first sight itself. There were lots of Photographers with their big bazookas and in fact, I had never seen such big cameras in my life. After the Safari, I requested one of them to show some photographs they have taken, and I was speechless when I looked at them! They were so vibrant, and I couldn’t even compare my pictures with them. I think this was the turning point! When I returned to Bangalore, I started browsing wildlife photographs and started learning about cameras and lenses. When I checked the price - as everyone knows, it was so expensive, and it wasn’t affordable for me at that time. But after six months, I bought my first DSLR and a zoom lens. In between, I learned more about wildlife photography and the technicalities involved. I think I had good theoretical knowledge when I got my DSLR. Then, I started visiting Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserves that are near Bangalore frequently and slowly extended my trips to other national parks and sanctuaries as well. I used to go to the lakesides in Bangalore every morning, it helped me to get familiarised with the equipment. Again, It took quite some time for me to realize the importance of understanding the habitat and animal behaviors; slowly, I started investing my time there as well. And that is how I started my journey!

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

I cannot take a particular name; there were lots of photographers who inspired me when I was a beginner. There are few names I would like to mention; One of them is Mr. Dritiman Mukherjee, undeniably he is one of the finest photographers we have in India right now! I was so impressed with his wide-angle habitat shots, and arguably he would be the first Indian photographer who introduced this style, and I strongly believe nobody has pulled it off as he did. The other one was Mr. SudhirShivaram - I am a big fan of his bird photography. I have attended a couple of his photography workshops at my initial stages and learned a lot from him. I would say his shots are so catchy and technically perfect!

One more name I would like to add here is Mr. David Lloyd, who was the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the year 2011 & 2014, and he has an impeccable track record in this field. When I started my journey, these legends had already taken all of my dream shots, and still their photographs give me goosebumps!

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

I am a Nikonian; I use Nikon full-frame cameras, D850 and D800 now, and for mammals, I use mainly Nikkor 500mm F4, Nikon 70-200 F2.8 and Sigma 100-400 lenses. Also, I have a wide-angle lens, Tokina 17-35 for landscapes and Tamron 90mm for macro shots. For birding, I used to mount Nikkor 1.4 TC with a 500mm lens. I use a couple of tripods as well, Benro 4770TN that I use with gimbal head (mainly for birding) & Vanguard Auctus 283AT with ball head for landscapes. I prefer to use my monopod if I go to shoot in thick forests or any other difficult terrain. I got some other accessories like Battery grips, ND filters, and shutter release, etc.

Sony A57 and Sigma 150-500 were my first DSLR & lens. After some time, I moved to Nikon because there were not many lens options available for Sony cameras at that time! Hence I upgraded it to Nikon D7100 (which was again a crop sensor camera) and Tamron 150-600 and I have used this combo for quite some time. Later, when I realized the capabilities of full-frame cameras, again I had to upgrade to D800 and then D850 that I use currently.

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

I started taking part in photography competitions from 2018 onwards. In 2019, I was recognized as the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year' by Beyond Vision which a prestigious photography platform with more than 65k members. In the same year, I was selected as the runner-up in the 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year' competition by Nature Lover’s Club.

In 2020, I got the state award from Kerala Govt & Forest Dept for the Wildlife Travelogue writing contest and another one from Wildlife Trust of India for a photography competition based on Mangrove ecosystems.

Also, I have won many theme-based and monthly photography competitions by Toehold, Camarena Academy, Travup, BWPC, Fotorbit & many more. My articles and photos have been published multiple times in leading magazines like Saevus, Sanctuary Asia, Manorama Traveller, Mathrubhumi Yathra and Bangalore mirror. My photographs were exhibited in major cities of India many times.

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

It was my dream to capture all the 12 kingfishers of the Indian subcontinent, and I have achieved the same two years back. I think I took almost four years to get them all, and I have done exclusive trips to Andaman Islands & Sundarbans to capture the last two. I guess only very few photographers in India have achieved it. I think this is one of the precious moments in my journey.

WallMag: What are the techniques you use while photographing?

I believe Wildlife Photography is all about keen observation and patience. It is important to understand the habitat and animal behavior which has helped me to pre-visualize the shots. I used to shoot everything which I think are visually appealing even if it is a common species; I have seen lots of photographers avoiding them. I look for ‘moments’ than the species count. During safaris, I used to carry two cameras, and if time permits, I love to shoot in different focal lengths and different orientations because the habitat shots are as important as the closeups. I used to stabilize my equipment either with a beanbag or a tripod most of the time to get the sharpest pictures possible. I will shoot only in ‘Aperture Priority’ mode as I think there is no other choice for a wildlife photographer. And, respect nature - that is the key!!!

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

Yes; I have done exclusive expeditions for some rarities like Slender Loris, Nilgiri Martin, Leopard Cat, etc. but it doesn’t mean that I will be clicking only the targeted species. I used to shoot everything which I feel interesting. If you are targeting a specific species, it’s very important to understand its behavior, the habitat, the best season & the time to find it. It is crucial to adjust the camera settings according to the lighting condition as fast as possible. Say, for example, to shoot the elusive Slender Loris in the forests of Thattekkad (in Kerala), I knew that it is difficult to find it in the day time, so we started searching for it from 6.30 evening. There wasn’t enough light, so I already bumped up the ISO to 6400 so that I could get enough shutter speed. I used my monopod as it was a thick forest, and I can shoot comparatively at slow shutter speeds. As the darkness increased, I was adjusting the camera settings even before I saw the actual target. In short, the success rate purely depends on how fast you can adapt to the lighting condition irrespective of where you are in!

WallMag: Can you share your most challenging shot?

There are lots of incidents where I have struggled a lot to get a proper shot; like the Red-headed Trogon from Mahananda, Andaman Nightjar from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Blyth’s Kingfisher from Pakke Tiger Reserve and many more. One of the challenging experience was photographing the elusive Fishing Cat from Bitarkanika National Park.

The thing is, fishing cats are nocturnal; we can see it only at night time when it searches for food in the banks of the river. These cats will be found only in specific areas of Bhitarkanika and we need to travel not less than 4 hours in a small boat to reach there. Every day, we used to start by 5.30 in the evening and come back by 4’o clock in the morning! We cannot shoot without a powerful torch; that too sitting in a shaky boat! Most of the time it was raining heavily; I was struggling to keep my gear safe from the rain. After 3 days of marathon search, I managed to get to some decent shots of the species!

WallMag: What are the difficulties faced by a wildlife photographer on a regular basis?

I would say, wildlife photography is one of the most challenging forms of photography. The fact is, there is no guarantee that you will see the animal; even if you see it, they will not pose for you; even if they pose, you cannot assure that you will make a good image - the list of challenges will go on. There were lots of instances where I have returned without a single shot. It is always better to plan your trips well in advance, according to the best season & time; but most of the time it is not possible because of our personal or professional commitments. Well, I have to admit that the IT field where I am working has lots of work pressure especially if you have multiple responsibilities. You cannot disconnect from the work even for an hour and it is impossible to elope from the work regularly. Personally, I feel, it is very difficult to balance both my passion and profession at the same time!

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

Awards are motivating always - there is no question about it. And, if you are a professional photographer, it is crucial to stay in limelight always and the awards and recognitions will help you to maintain the celebrity status. But in my personal opinion, we should not be award oriented; you need to enjoy every moment that you spent with nature. Awards and recognitions will come after you if you are devoted to your passion.

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

I was fortunate enough to see a live hunt by Maya - the famous tigress of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve a few years back. It was a morning safari, and when I saw the tigress it was looking at something curiously! Two-spotted deers were standing around 200 meters away from the tigress. I have anticipated that it may hunt but never imagined it would be so brutal and fascinating at the same time! Maya approached them slowly hiding from their sight and charged on to one of the spotted deers and killed it within a few seconds. Then the tigress dragged the kill into the lake nearby which was unexpected. The other spotted deer was looking at it helplessly and I could capture both the animals in a single frame. This was one of my favorite moment out of the entire sequence!

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

I used to carry both of my cameras most of the time, especially if I am going on a Safari. I used to mount one camera with the 500mm prime lens and the other one with any one of the zoom lenses depending on the situation. Also, I used to carry a wide-angle lens to take some habitat shots. For birding trips, I mainly use a 500mm lens with 1.4 TC and prefer to use either a monopod or a tripod. A rain cover for equipment and a microfibre cloth will be there in my bag always. If it is a long session, I used to carry a water bottle and some dry fruits as well.

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

Undoubtedly, I can say - it is Narcondam Hornbills. It is my dream to photograph this magnificent creature of Narcondam which is a small volcanic island located in the northern Andaman Sea and it is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. These endemic hornbills are present only on this island. We need special permission from the central government to visit this island and Hope I will make it one day…

WallMag: Is there one animal/bird you'll happily photograph again and again? Can you share one image shot by you of the same species?

I don’t know why I am fascinated by hornbills. This is one of the birds I love to photograph again and again. I have a good collection of hornbills including the elusive Rufous-necked, Wreathed, Oriental Pied, Great Indian, Malabar Pied, Malabar Grey, and Indian Grey Hornbills. When I visit my hometown in Kerala, I used to go to a small hill station nearby called Nelliyampathy which is a part of Western ghats and a fantastic habitat for Great Indian Hornbills. This place has blessed me with some amazing hornbill shots many times! Another must-visit habitat is Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary of West Bengal. I can’t forget my hornbill expedition there and the nesting picture of Rufous-necked Hornbill I got, is one of my favorite images!

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

The first thing I wanted to tell you is, to master your equipment. It is really important to understand the technicality. Stop worrying about the equipment; just think about how you can get the best out of it. You can create magical images even with a basic camera. It is good to know the rules of photography and composition techniques. But don’t follow them blindly if they are not helping you. Learn from your mistakes; the thumb rule is more you click more you will improve; so click everything and try to bring maximum variety in your photographs. Understand animal behavior and the habitat they live in. Last, but not least - Respect Nature!

WallMag: What keeps you motivated?

What can be more inspiring than nature? I don’t think anything in this world will make me happy and enthusiastic than nature itself. Believe me, I enjoy every moment when I am behind the camera wandering in nature. And, I feel I am on top of the world when I get the exact image that I had in my mind before shooting. So let mother nature be your motivation!

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?

I agree with this statement one hundred percent without any doubts. I would like to mention my experience to find the rarest Blyth’s Kingfisher. It is the most elusive kingfisher species in the Indian subcontinent that is found only in the northeast states of India. A couple of years back, I went to Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh to photograph it. We used to walk 8 kilometers daily through the jungle to reach the spot. There wasn’t a proper way, the path was muddy and slippery with lots of leaches! We used to start by 5’o clock in the morning and used to search the same around 4 hrs daily. We were successful only on the third day, and it was just a glance! I got only a couple of shots, and it remains one of the precious photographs I have ever taken.

WallMag: Could you please describe your experience of participating in the WallMag Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 and marking your presence as top 2nd winner? What tips would you like to give to upcoming participants?

First of all, I would like to thank the entire team of WallMag and the judges for selecting me as a winner. It was an honor to be a part of the WallMag Photography Awards 2020, and this will be an inspiration for me to continue my journey as a wildlife photographer! I was impressed with the judgment as the top picks were well deserved in every aspect. I can see, the judges have evaluated all the parameters like the composition, angle, creativity, the effort behind the shot, and the conservation values - it was a flawless and undisputed judgment. I would like to convey the message to the upcoming participants - If you have a worthy image, this is one of the best platforms for you!

You can have a look at Sandeep's Website to view his quality work.

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