I took my first photo when I was only three years old. My first photo was of him! I started clicking photos when my father gifted me his camera, which is a Nikon D5000 with an 85 mm macro lens. My father is also a macro photographer, and the category winner of amphibians and reptiles in WPY 2014. Like my father, I got Interested in the mesmerizing world of Insects and spiders. My father and I started to go to nearby parks to learn more about macro photography when I was six years old.
So our Photographic Safaris were not to jungles but to various gardens in our neighborhood. We also did photography in and around our native, Sringeri, Karnataka. In one of those interesting expeditions, I found a sunbathing lizard when we were about to return. Since I was tired, my father suggested that I sit inside our car and capture this magical shot. It has always been one of my favourite images.
I have learned many creative tricks and techniques from the mentors of the Creative Nature Photography forum. I regularly post my images and the experienced mentors comment on their views and suggestions. CNP is my greatest inspiration.
We went out one night to capture subjects lit by the humongous lights of the gopuram. Unfortunately that day, the lights were switched off. On the way back home, I noticed the raindrops on the windows looked very artistic when they were lit by a streetlight. This is how I captured two of my favourite images.
During the reign of Covid-19, we spotted a Wagtail just beside our apartment where there is an empty parking lot. During the break in my online classes, I used to go out to capture the wagtail playing with its reflection in the mirrors of trucks and cars. Once, we parked our car outside and camped inside just to capture the wagtail from inside the car. It even went atop the sunroof!
I used to see my father capture images with urban elements in the background. I also wanted to try something similar. I found a tent spider in a park that has upcycled art pieces installed. Along with my father, I tried capturing this spider with various moving vehicles in the background. Out of the hundreds of images I captured that day, only a handful of them were focused and had a good background. I loved this image because it has two very bold colours and also the intricate patterns of the web are in focus.
This image brought me the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021 and the Category Winner of 10 Years and under awards. I was not expecting this award, but I am very thrilled to have this title. Through this award, I got an opportunity to interact with great photographic personalities like Chris Packham, and Megan Mccubbin I aspire to continue and learn more about macro photography.
I am thankful to the mentors of CNP and my parents for their guidance that has helped me achieve this.
