Wildlife Photography - a hobby, an art and a political statement

My article "Wildlife Photography - a hobby, an art and a political statement" appeared in the October issue of "Wildernews" an e-zine published by Chennai Trekking Club. It can be downloaded from here. 

Here is my article...

Wildlife Photography - a hobby, an art and a political statement

Wildlife photography is not entirely about the long lenses, the expensive camera, or visiting national parks in far-off places. However, these luxuries will positively influence your reach, help you capture some rare moments, help you encounter innumerable wildlife speciess. Definitely they are big pluses to anyone who is interested in wildlife photography, but basically one should have the urge for photographing wildlife.

What makes you go out and photograph a bird perched on your garden tree, an interesting insect, or any animal? It may be simple appreciation of beauty, your wondering about natural phenomena, freezing life at a critical moment, or sublimation of primeval hunting instinct. It could be an effort to create a piece of art like our forefathers did in the rock paintings or an idea of documenting a wildlife species that are living in that area at present and could possibly be extinct in the coming years due to severe urbanization and environmental deterioration. It could be anything. But the feeling that makes you go out and raise your camera for wildlife is definitely wonderful. 

I mostly photograph wild animals and birds not because I love them above all, but because I strongly believe that they have every right to inherit this planet as I do. As an animal with ‘six senses’ or consciousness, it is my responsibility to find a way to relate with them. However, this is no way that I buy the idea of human beings being superior and all other animate and inanimate forms are blessed for them. Indeed without them we will perish; not the other way. We will be very poor even if one of them is gone forever. My photographs  of these wild animals and birds are my way of telling that they need a place to sleep, water to quench their thirst, and habitat or sky to be free.

I photograph any wildlife that comes into my life. I photograph sunbirds that visit my garden every morning, red-vented bulbuls that drink at the feeder, or robins or black drangos and shikras that perch at the murungai tree. I photograph the koel, which is mostly invisible, tucked well in the branches. Sometimes I go to the Cauvery River to photograph spoon bills, Asian open bills, painted storks, and Indian cormorants. It is bliss to watch the male baya weaver in nest-making while the female is selecting the suitable nest as well as the partner. One can also go to nearby forests and bird sanctuaries durying bird migration seasons. Photographing endangered species is not easy, because they are not only hard to find but it is also intimidating when we know that we are the reason for their extinction. I felt this when I photographed the trumpeter swans in Alaska that were annihilated for their feathers for quill pens, or musk ox for their skin and meat. Wildlife photography could be for fun or a hobby. But it could be also a political statement and a conservation tool.