18 Photographers Share Their Incredible Stories on Nature and Wildlife Photography

Photograph/Baiju Patil

Baiju Patil
A resident of Aurangabad, Baiju has been actively photographing wildlife for the last 18 years. He recently launched his book Wildscape at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Over the years, he has received several awards, like the Vir Bhagat Singh Award, Wild Maharashtra Photographer of the Year and many more.

“It’s rare to get lizards in action. Unwavering attention and dexterity complemented my years of research.”

I’ve spent the last three years studying and documenting the behaviour of the Fan-throated Lizard. They are magnificent creatures who are approachable, but only after you have gained their trust. However, developing this close-knit relationship took time and effort. One factor that helped was the donning of the same camouflaged attire, day in and day out. And I’d move just a few inches at a time, after several minutes, even hours. Gaining their trust allowed me to get incredibly close, sometimes my lens being just a few centimetres from their face. This image was a result of the encroachment of one lizard over the territory of another. They move rapidly, so it was a very satisfying photograph. “It’s rare to get lizards in action. Unwavering attention and dexterity complemented my years of research.”

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikkor AF Micro 60mm f/2.8D
Exposure: 1/4000sec at f/4, ISO 800

Tip
Conveying Personality
Move beyond standard documentation. Ask yourself what makes this particular animal different. Maybe it possesses a certain trait that is unique. Then, look for frames and moments that highlight this defining characteristic.