Between The Courtroom And The Jungle With Aarzoo Khurana

This yr’s Champion of Travel Photography, Aarzoo Khurana sees nature via a affected person and purposeful lens. With a background in legislation, she has grow to be a distinguished voice within the Indian wildlife images and storytelling neighborhood. In dialog with T+L India & South Asia, Khurana displays on balancing twin careers in legislation and images, the challenges of working in distant and excessive environments, and her mission to create deeper emotional connections between audiences and the pure world.

Edited Excerpts From The Interview With Aarzoo Khurana

T+L India: What was the second you went from being a full-time lawyer and realised the tales you wished to inform have been via journey images?

Aarzoo Khurana: I’m nonetheless very a lot a lawyer. Somewhere alongside the way in which, I realised that my coronary heart beats louder within the forests than within the courts. I wished to ignite this love for the wild in everybody, the love of widespread animals seen in unusual moments. I wished to {photograph} them in a approach that makes folks fall in love with wildlife the way in which I did. That’s what pulled me into this journey.

So sure, I nonetheless apply legislation. But most days, you’ll discover me deep within the forest, ready for that one body, that one story nature desires to inform. Law hasn’t disappeared from my life; it’s merely taken the backseat whereas the forests have taken the wheel.

T+L India: Which {photograph} in your portfolio tells a narrative you’ve by no means shared publicly, and why is it so particular to you?

Aarzoo Khurana: I wouldn’t say there’s anybody “special” {photograph} I’ve stored hidden. The second I create a picture that deserves a spot in my portfolio, I really feel a direct urge to share it. After all, I started images to specific my love for wildlife—and to assist folks join with the little, magical issues that occur deep contained in the forest.

My goal has at all times been to behave as a bridge between the surface world and the world of the wild. Holding again {a photograph} has by no means felt pure. That mentioned, there are a couple of photos extremely near my coronary heart, and I’d fortunately share these with you.

T+L India: What’s probably the most difficult surroundings you’ve photographed in, and the way did it push your creativity or approach?

Aarzoo Khurana: One of the hardest moments was photographing the snow leopard in Spiti. The Himalayas had at all times intimidated me—I’ve been afraid of heights and excessive chilly, and for years I postponed my Himalayan journey. But this yr, I lastly instructed myself: sufficient. If I may cowl all 58 tiger reserves throughout India, the mountains couldn’t stay the one unchecked field.

Reality hit exhausting as quickly as I reached Spiti. I had a extreme case of AMS—breathless, dizzy, exhausted. Then an enormous snowstorm trapped us for days. Whiteout circumstances, no motion, no ensures. It was probably the most difficult environments I’ve ever labored in.

But when your ardour turns into your occupation, you may’t deal with it like a pastime. You present up—irrespective of how powerful it will get. That mindset pushed me ahead. I wasn’t in Spiti as a vacationer; I used to be there as a wildlife photographer with a job to complete. So I surrendered to the issue and the concern.

Eventually, the storm cleared. I photographed the snow leopard and several other Himalayan species I had dreamed of documenting for years. It was bodily, mentally, and emotionally demanding—however I walked out stronger than I walked in. That’s the fantastic thing about this journey.

T+L India: How do you translate the vitality, sounds, or feelings of a spot right into a single nonetheless picture?

Aarzoo Khurana: You can by no means really seize your complete vitality or sound of a spot in a single {photograph}—however you could be extraordinarily delicate to what the place is providing in that second. For me, it begins with statement: the animal’s behaviour, the standard of sunshine, the tempo of the forest, even its silence.

When the surroundings feels a sure approach—tense, calm, heat, dramatic—I mirror that via composition and light-weight. Softer gentle and clear frames for tranquillity; distinction, shadows, or tight framing for depth.

It’s not about recreating all the pieces. It’s about figuring out one dominant temper of the second and staying sincere to it.

T+L India: Which lesser-known Indian vacation spot has shocked you probably the most via your lens, and why?

Aarzoo Khurana: Covering all 58 tiger reserves has allowed me to discover forests most individuals don’t even know exist. And actually, those that shocked me probably the most are sometimes the least visited.

Rajaji Tiger Reserve is extremely stunning and nonetheless under-explored. Sanjay–Dubri is an enormous, quiet gem. Nagzira gave me one in every of my finest leopard sightings ever. And Pake Tiger Reserve within the Northeast stands out for its untouched wilderness and breathtaking landscapes.

These forests aren’t on mainstream tourism maps, however their tranquillity and rawness are on one other degree. They remind you what a forest looks like when it’s simply you, the panorama, and the wildlife.

T+L India: How do you steadiness your inventive imaginative and prescient with the accountability of representing a tradition authentically?

Aarzoo Khurana: I can’t actually discuss representing tradition as a result of my work is rooted in wildlife—however I can discuss representing wildlife authentically.

One of the primary causes I began images was noticing how wildlife conversations targeted solely on tigers. I like tigers, however I additionally consider the forest doesn’t belong to at least one species. Every animal has a job within the ecosystem.

So I attempt to present the forest as an entire—not simply charismatic species, however “common” animals, landscapes, and quieter moments.

Authenticity for me means by no means compromising ethics for {a photograph}: respecting animal area, following forest guidelines, by no means pushing limits only for a shot. When you respect nature, it offers again in its personal approach.

T+L India: Travel images could be bodily and mentally demanding. How do you keep energised and creatively impressed on lengthy journeys?

Aarzoo Khurana: Travel and wildlife images demand fixed motion. I’m on the street more often than not, typically shifting from one forest to a different for months. When you commit wholeheartedly, you settle for that fixed journey turns into a lifestyle.

It does take a toll—your well being, routines, household time, and luxury all get affected. In the start, I struggled and my well being suffered. Over time, I grew to become extra aware. Now I attempt to work out, eat cleaner, and keep some steadiness even whereas travelling.

It’s nonetheless difficult; some days the routine breaks fully. But the concept is to maintain coming again to it. It’s a steady effort.

T+L India: Beyond aesthetics, what do you hope viewers take out of your images?

Aarzoo Khurana: Aesthetics are solely a small a part of images. While they assist make a picture visually pleasing, the actual intention is to instil a way of affection and respect for all wildlife, together with widespread animals and birds comparable to deer, peacocks and different ceaselessly neglected species present in forests.

Too typically, folks go to forests with the only real purpose of seeing tigers. While tigers are a favorite topic, each animal and chook has its personal place and significance inside the ecosystem. Tigers exist as a result of the forest exists, not the opposite approach round. The hope is that viewers take away emotion, appreciation and a deeper reference to the jungle and its wildlife.

T+L India: One unconventional tip to seize extra than simply fairly photos

Aarzoo Khurana: It will not be unconventional, however an necessary tip is to compose the {photograph} in your thoughts earlier than urgent the shutter. Visualise how the weather can be positioned, how visible weight can be distributed, and what ought to be revealed or subtly hidden inside the body.

T+L India: What sorts of tales or experiences are you most excited to discover via your images?

Aarzoo Khurana: At current, the main target is on less-explored species. The purpose is to {photograph} animals that folks have hardly ever seen, or might by no means have seen in any respect. This includes travelling to distant areas the world over to doc species which might be on the point of extinction.

Related: Meet Ashik Aseem, The T+L Champion Of Travel Photography

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