Welcome
Colours represents our Natural World & my passion for photography. It is a collection of my photographs ranging from Nature to Wildlife, most of which are from travel across my diverse Country - India.
The richness of Flora & Fauna ranges across India reflecting its abundant wildlife. India is home to a large number of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects & amphibians.
India, lying within the Indomalaya ecozone, hosts significant biodiversity; it is home to 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species. Many ecoregions, such as the shola forests, also exhibit extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant species are endemic. India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and Northeast India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes lie the sal-dominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; teak-dominated dry deciduous forest of central and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central Deccan and western Gangetic plain.
Vishal Sabharwal
Wildlife photographer & enthusiast.
To begin let me piece out a page from my memory. I was in 5th grade, out on a school camping trip.
Don't quite remember the name of the place but we had mud-huts as an arrangement to see us through the night.
The village that surrounded us was probably the only from where the other villagers came to fetch water, along with the villagers the water hole was shared by wild animals too. The animals were seldom chased away if they found footings through the village inhabiting the water source. The 3 nights that we housed there each morning I would awaken to find myself wanting to walk across to the small lake and I did. Keeping my distance I observed the regular visitors; a herd of elephants. Generally this herd would cross through the village late at night or wee hours of dawn as there was better grounding there. There was one elephant who would step out of the water and enjoy her sand bath.
At the brink of an epiphany as I approached closer, I realized there were many similarities between the elephants and us, only soon to find myself being scolded for creeping too close to them, as I got agitated I could also sense the same agitation among elephants on hearing people shout behind me.
The elephants didn't hesitate about me sharing their space, the instinctive Gentle Giants like any other wild animal showed respect for my boundaries as I did for theirs.
I carried that practical knowledge along with me to this day, as I've always found it lead me to good photographs.
On travels I find myself encouraging village kids to respect and understand wild animals who share the same space, because after all we are the ones stretching our boundaries & encroaching into their space.
Mammals
Birds
Insects
Landscapes
Reptiles & Amphibians
Funnies
Flip Here
New Delhi - Ranthambore Circuit
New Delhi - Bharatpur Circuit
Itineraries
Contents
Wildlife Photography
By Vishal Sabharwal
In Wildlife Photography, what distinguishes a decent photograph from an excellent one?
It is patience to wait for the right moment, the dedication to capture it and the knowledge of knowing the difference.
To predict the movements of wild animals is by trying to understand their behavior, the more time you spend the better you understand them. Its kind of like a predators strategy that patiently waits for the prey to come closer & then launches the strike.
Always remind yourself of the wild animals ability to utilize their senses many fold than ours. Besides the techniques there are various external factors that influence making of a great shot, they are as follows:
Environmental Factors
Good idea is to position oneself keeping into consideration the following:
Distracting FactorsDistractions arise not only to oneself but the wild animals too, consider the following:Strictly avoid keeping loose change/keys in your pockets that inevitably will rattle and startle the wild animals.Be alert of your surroundings, tourists around most likely will get excited upon observing wildlife, you may politely hint them to hush.Be considerate of other equally serious photographers, if you find your view being blocked by another photographer slowly readjust your position, else wait for their shutter to go off and hint them.Refrain from raising an alarm verbally, gestures are more favorable. You most definitely dont want to startle the wild animals.The sound of your cameras shutter distracts the animals, think carefully because one shot is all you may get.Photographic TechniquesKnow your equipment well before you venture into the wilderness, try photographing pets/domestic animals to get hang of the equipment.Select your lenses depending on the subject you wish to photograph, carrying an array of lenses will just distract you from what you want to capture.Changing of lenses in the field may not be a good idea, besides having missed a shot your camera will be more prone to collect dust/moisture.Keep in mind the Rule of Thumb for *Shutter Speed i.e. shouldnt be lesser than the actual focal length of your lens, unless you have camera support or really steady hands.
Distracting Factors
Distractions arise not only to oneself but the wild animals too, consider the following:
Photographic Techniques
Choose your *Aperture wisely depending upon your subject, as it will help determine the *DOF- Depth of Field. For photographing large animals at a close distance it is advisable to keep atleast 2-3 stops smaller to ensure increased DOF unless you want a selective focus. For animals at a distance you may keep a larger Aperture i.e. shallow/decreased DOF to seclude one animal from the heard/back ground. DOF has a greater range in SLR cameras with inter-changeable lenses in comparison to point and shoot with fixed lenses.Photographic TipsTo make really good pictures of wildlife, one must make a study of animal behavior to have a better chance of anticipating action.A naturalists sensitivity is as important as the photographic technique.Youll have the best possibilities of photographing wild animals when they are most active; usually early morning/evening, since the direction of natural light and hues are just right.Give the animals enough room to move around, never corner a wild animal. If cornered they may panic and will act instinctively.Never get between the animal and its food.Dont drive in where you cant get out fast.Always carry protective covering for your camera equipment and be prepared to encounter lots of dust/rain.When camera is not in use a good idea is to keep it covered with a cloth preventing dust to settle on the front lens element and the camera body.Keep all necessary essentials/camera accessories/extra memory cards/cleaning cloth/spare battery, etc. in your jacket pockets, from where they can be easily accessed.If using tele-lenses a support is a must, it can be in form of a tripod/monopod/beanbag.Use whatever is available to you in case you miss any of the essentials for e.g. place the camera on the vehicles body/window in absence of a dedicated support. Running low on memory without backup cards, reduce the resolution at which the camera stores photographs. Besides having to
Photographic Tips
To make really good pictures of wildlife, one must make a study of animal behavior to have a better chance of anticipating action.
sacrifice at times be better prepared for next time by your learnings.Most importantly display respect for the boundaries of wild animals and they shall for yours.Must HavesA pair of binocularsExtra memory cardsSpare batteriesCamera supportProtective coveringIn case travelling in an open jeep/gypsy, carry rope to harness the tripod beforehand on to the frame of your vehicle.
sacrifice at times be better prepared for next time by your learnings.
Must Haves
Glossary of terms
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