Wild Shots*
Wildlife photography is not a photo-centric activity.
Award-winning wildlife photographer Pvsub Prabhu gives tips on this
unconventional career.
Pvsub Prabhu is a name that does not just elicits respect in photography
circles, but also amongst practitioners of the environment movement.
Starting his career as a wildlife photographer in 1980, he studied a
course in photography at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
in Hyderabad. There was no looking back for him as he gathered laurels
after laurels, establishing himself as a prominent wildlife
photographer, not just in the country, but also abroad.
Several of his photographs have been exhibited in over 20 countries,
winning many prestigious awards across the globe, his latest being a
gold medal in photography at the Finland International Photo Contest
held last year.
He will be honoured by the Artiste’ Federation Internationale d L Art’
Photographique (AFIAP) in November this year for his outstanding
contribution to the field of photography.But what gives this man, who
has been at the forefront of his unconventional profession, an even more
unconventional touch is his approach. He explains, “I am a wildlife
photographer solely out of my passion. I use my photography as a tool to
propagate social change, so as to reach out to people on the importance
of conserving our ecology. I do not make any money out of my interest
for wildlife.”
A social worker at the helm of his interest, Mr. Prabhu believes in
propagating change at the grassroots. “I work closely with tribal
people, as they are the frontrunners in conserving our environment. A
person living in an urban area may rarely come across a wild animal in
his day-to-day life. But a tribal person has to see wildlife on a daily
basis. It is thus, important to help them coexist with the wild in a
peaceful manner,” he says.
Mr. Prabhu is the Managing Trustee of the Asian Wildlife Foundation, and
a Working Committee Member of the Federation of Indian Photography. He
was also chosen to be the exclusive photographer to the former President
of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, for his autobiography Wings of Fire.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Prabhu unravels the secrets of wildlife
photography, and how youngsters can opt for this unconventional and
exciting career.
Passion towards Nature
My father was a pictorial photographer, who was fond of nature and
wildlife. He used to promise me incentives like if I would score really
well in my 7th grade examinations, he would take me on a trip to the
forest, and so on. It was trips like those that cemented my passion
towards nature and wildlife. When I was 14, he took me to a forest which
was 60 kilometres out of Rajahmundry, my hometown.
 |
| Majestic: A rare photograph of a pair of Royal Bengal tigers in
courtship captured in the Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Photo :
Pvsub Prabhu
|
We stopped and observed all the animals we could find from a distance,
and he took time to explain their characteristics to me in detail. After
this, we made several camping trips to various forests in other parts
of the country. This was how I had developed an interest in nature and
wildlife.
As my father had a deep love for photography, his passion rubbed off on
me. My father would use expensive cameras like Nikorex and Nikormat. He
would allow me to use them as well which helped me understand the
nuances of my interest. We had a garden in the backyard of our house,
and he taught me to start by capturing images of garden insects like
butterflies and praying mantes. Thus, it was in the garden that I had
developed an interest for wildlife.
My motto is simple. Photography, as a medium, should inculcate the need for conservation of wildlife in the country.
Inspiration
Shekhar Dattatri, a Chennai-based wildlife filmmaker, has been a great
source of inspiration for me. Off late, he has come out with some
amazing work in his field. I also admire the work of Ullas Karanth and
the Late OC Edwards. Karanth has made a mark in the wildlife
conservation sector by introducing ‘camera traps’, a foolproof method of
counting tigers in forests.
On the other hand, Edwards is world renowned for his contribution to
wildlife photography with the Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera.
Challenges facing the industry
These days, photographers are blessed with hardware. They can buy many
fancy modern gadgets with money. However, patience is one of the most
important tools for wildlife photography. In order to succeed in this
profession, patience and a passion for wildlife photography are very
important, which is hard to find in many budding wildlife photographers.
How can youngsters make a foray
If you have the passion for wildlife and photography, you can make a
mark in this profession. While starting off, there is no need for an
expensive camera at all as it is important to first get your basics
right. One needs to first practise and acquire perfection with limited
resources. It is important to understand what equipment you are using
and why. You need to observe nature, starting right from your garden.
Good observation skills are a prerequisite for this profession. See
wildlife photography with an eye for conservation. Never hamper nature
for the purpose of clicking a photograph. Always remember that wildlife
photography is not a photo-centric activity. You can start off as an
accomplice to a professional wildlife photographer, before starting your
career independently.
As a wildlife photographer…
My day as a wildlife photographer begins with keeping my gadgets for the
shoot ready. I then mentally prepare myself for the outing.
Once I reach my photography spot, which may be a park or a forest, I
start clicking pictures of everything that fascinates me. They may be
insects, wildlife, or even the barks of trees. I find all 365 days of
the year fascinating and dynamic, and all seasons good for photography.
__________
* Noorain Mohammed Nadim - The writer is a B.A. Journalism III-year student, M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai.
