In the bustling city of Dubai, my world is split between two very different but equally exciting passions: the quiet thrill of wildlife photography and the expressive melodies of my guitar. For me, the feeling of capturing a perfect, fleeting moment of an animal is just as great as finally mastering a new song.
My journey with the camera started on an amazing family trip to Kenya’s plains. Seeing the raw, wild beauty of the African savanna ignited something in me. I started snapping pictures of everything from a family of giraffes to a lion walking against the sunrise. That initial spark quickly grew into a real passion, leading me and my family on memorable safaris to Sri Lanka and India, to name a few. Each trip adds new subjects and new stories to my portfolio.
It was during the MUN that I had a pretty funny realization: taking pictures of animals and birds, even with all the patience and skill it takes, is actually easier than photographing people. In the wild, animals act naturally. They don’t pose, and their expressions are always genuine.
But behind the camera at the MUN, I was facing a different kind of “wildlife.” To get a good shot, I had to be a lot faster and more aware of what was happening. I had to look for natural moments of students deep in thought or the exact moment an argument was being made. I noticed, with a little amusement, the nervous smiles and self-conscious poses people made when they saw my camera.
I’ll tell you, getting a kingfisher to perch just right for a photo was probably less complicated than trying to get a group of teenagers to stand still and smile genuinely for a group shot. And the unpredictable antics of a pair of owls seemed simple compared to trying to capture a true expression from someone who knows a camera is pointed at them.
Despite all the new challenges, being the MUN photographer helped me a lot. I learned to anticipate what people would do, to frame shots quickly in a busy place, and to capture the real feel of a moment even with all the noise and action.
In my free time, you can find me with my guitar in my hands. Just like I look for the perfect light and composition in a photo, I’m always searching for the right notes and rhythm in my music. Both passions require a lot of focus, patience, and a keen eye or ear for detail.
For me, the world whether it’s a huge national park or the halls of my school is full of subjects to explore with my camera. And even though I still laugh about how much easier it is to photograph a patient bird than a group of busy students, my goal is always the same: to capture a great story, no matter where it takes me. The wildlife will always have a special place in my heart, but my recent experience proved that taking pictures of people is fun too!
