Capturing Nature’s Wonders: Parag Bhatt’s Journey to Wildlife Photography Mastery

“I found myself in Kenya during the year 1994. My cousin took me on a trip to the Nairobi National Park. While we drove through, we came across a lioness with her young ones. Eager to capture a photograph of them, I asked my cousin to lower the window. Unfortunately, that didn’t yield much. Therefore, I instinctively exited the vehicle, drew near to the front, and snapped a shot. In the blink of an eye, I noticed the lioness pounce.”

The ensuing chaos was extraordinary.

Recalling the experience, Mumbai-based wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt mentions how the lioness’s advance was accompanied by his cousin’s desperate attempts to urge him back into the car.

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It was not until he was safely out of the situation (both literally and figuratively) that the fear subsided, leaving him with a lingering sense of aspiration. “I was certain I wanted to pursue wildlife photography,” he shares with The Better India. 

Parag attributes his passion for nature to his mother, who was born and brought up in Kenya. “She often recounted tales of how the wildlife there wasn’t imprisoned but wandered freely.” His photographic talent is a trait he inherited from his father, a photographer by profession. “As a young child, I remember helping him in the darkroom (a setting where photographic films are developed). I would occasionally pick up his camera and try taking pictures.” 

From an early age, photography fascinated Parag. He was enchanted by how images remained unchanged and preserved moments forever. 

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A deep connection with nature

Be it moments captured in South Africa, Svalbard, or nearer to home — in Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Nagarhole National Park, and Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) — each of Parag’s images conveys a unique narrative. 

When asked how he achieved success in photography despite lacking formal training in the field, Parag attributes it to a natural instinct. He acknowledges that possessing high-quality cameras, lenses, and gear is beneficial. However, he emphasizes that creating remarkable images requires more than mere technical skill. 

What does it take to be a GREAT wildlife photographer?

1. Capture a story, not just a photograph

“Could you please reverse the car?” Parag asked the driver as he and 19 other photographers from all over India were selected to promote Assam’s Wildlife Tourism, while they journeyed through Kaziranga National Park. The group speculated whether Parag had spotted something extraordinary. Moments later, as the vehicle reversed, they were amused to find that his focal point was a family of tortoises. 

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So, what made him want to photograph a family of these small creatures in a national park brimming with larger attractions? 

“It was the arrangement of their positioning that drew my attention. Most were lined up in a single row, gazing in one direction, while one was facing the opposite way. Quite an inclusive setup, don’t you think?”

Parag thus illustrates the point that images do not need to be extravagant. They merely have to narrate a story. A good photograph, he insists, will attract attention. But a superb photograph serves as a prompt for reflection. 

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And Parag’s works resonate with the essence of excellence; they have been featured in notable UK publications such as the Daily Star, Daily Mail, and Daily Express. However, he refrains from taking sole credit for this success, attributing it instead to nature’s generosity.  

2. Hone your eye for composition

Avoid capturing images carelessly, Parag advises. 

“I encourage emerging wildlife photographers to evaluate the surroundings before clicking a photograph. The backdrop can either enhance or detract from the image. It should draw the viewer’s gaze toward the subject instead of allowing their eyes to wander aimlessly over the picture.”

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For instance, take bird photography. “Obtaining a good shot can be challenging because there are usually branches and other distractions in the frame.” To overcome this, Parag suggests altering your angle to achieve a clearer background. 

3. Identify opportunities everywhere

In a realm where everyone possesses a camera instinctively, rising above the commonplace is challenging. Yet if you desire to distinguish yourself, you’ll need to go against the current, Parag advises. 

He encourages the wildlife photographers he mentors to uncover chances in unexpected places. Illustrating his point, he states, “When I visit a tiger reserve, I don’t just chase after tigers. Rather, I keep a lookout for deer and langurs. Frequently, people become so fixated…

on what they ought to be selecting that they miss actual photographic chances.” 

One must truly hone the perception and abilities for excellent composition, he states, guaranteeing that this develops through practice. “Merely recognizing an opportunity allows you to create remarkable photographs. Otherwise, they will simply be ordinary snapshots.” 

4. Embrace difficult shots

Take the longer route in photography, suggests Parag. Recollecting one of his most captivating images, he reminisces about his endeavor to photograph a polar bear shaking water off its body, with the droplets resembling a galaxy of stars. 

Sharing some behind-the-scenes insights, he reveals, “This female bear was resting on a ridge. We approached closer, expecting her to move, but we waited for 57 minutes, and nothing occurred. She simply lay still.” 

Just as Parag considered he might have to conclude for the day, the predator stood, moved down the ridge into the water and sniffed it. She then submerged at one point and emerged at another. It took merely twenty seconds between the dive and the emergence. 

Focused on capturing the bear as it rose from the water, Parag found this to be a serious test of his endurance. “We had no idea from where she would surface. Additionally, the long focal lens we used — since we couldn’t approach too close to the subject — limited our field of view. To make matters more challenging, the waters were tumultuous, causing the boat to sway, thus making it difficult to achieve the right composition.” 

However, he realized that persistence was crucial, and eventually managed to capture his shot. 

5. Foresee the moment

Wildlife photography may consist of a series of successes and failures, but Parag asserts that the former can surpass the latter if you learn to anticipate the moment. A heightened sense of curiosity is always beneficial. 

He acquired this knowledge while photographing elephants in Kenya. “You must keep your camera ready. Sometimes, it’s impossible to anticipate their direction, and if you risk moving closer to their path, they might alter it. In such scenarios, foreseeing the moment and placing your camera in a location you think they’ll approach can prove advantageous.” 

6. Understand your subject

Picture this. You find yourself in the midst of the Kenyan plateau. You’re prepared with your camera. Two rhinoceroses dash toward you. They are nearly within reach. Do you feel anxious or is this merely your dream actualized? For Parag, it was the latter. 

Recalling this episode, he notes it educated him significantly about animal behavior. “Rhinos have limited eyesight and can only clearly see you when they are close by. They continued inching closer, possibly trying to comprehend what I was doing or what my camera actually was. They playfully sniffed me. That’s when I captured them with an ultra-wide lens.” 

Although this was enjoyable, Parag warns that it was solely because these were Kenyan rhinos. Had it been an Indian rhino or a Kenyan black rhino, he would not have felt as composed. 

7. Which camera should you choose?

When venturing out for wildlife photography, Parag advocates opting for a mirrorless camera. “These are relatively new cameras. Previously, DSLRs featured a mirror that would flip. However, the modern mirrorless technology allows you to have a direct view of your subject. What you see is what you get.” Another benefit of the mirrorless system, he states, is its auto-focusing function. “Make sure the lens has about 400 mm to 600 mm of range and on the lower side about 100 mm to 150 mm.”

While he has numerous other insights to offer aspiring wildlife photographers, Parag asserts that the most significant lesson he learned the hard way. Photography taught him that you may plan for a moment in a particular manner, but it might not transpire as anticipated; instead, it could happen even more splendidly. 

Edited by Khushi Arora; Image source: Parag Bhatt