Photographer Kedar Bhide's ongoing exhibition in Mumbai seeks to put the spotlight on habitat and wildlife conservation.
Given his experience of two decades in the fields of herpetology and photography, Kedar Bhide's name is not unheard of in conservation circles.
The founder of Reptile Rescue and Study Centre, Bhide has been consistently creating awareness about snakebite deaths. But he wants to spread his passion for wildlife and create more awareness not just about species but also about their habitat. In Top, Bottom & Everything In Between, he is exhibiting 60 stunning photographs with an aim to highlight the biodiversity that India is blessed with.
“India is truly a unique nation when it comes to different ecological zones. Be it deserts, mountains, snow clad peaks, seas, rainforests, plains, plateaus; all of these are found in one nation!” says Bhide.
“With the help of my family and few friends, we managed to shortlist 60 photographs from my collection of the last 20 years,” he says. The photographs include wildlife, wild flowers, landscapes, habitat and photos of marine life. They also include jaw-dropping images that seek to emphasise the need for conservation efforts directed not just at species, but also for their environment. He hopes that his photographs can lead people to think of the abundance of natural beauty that India has; and understand the necessity and urgency to conserve it.
1. 'Find me if you can'
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Being camouflaged is one of the best features of nature and this Draco did a really good job. I personally feel, that out of many fauna that I have seen camouflaged, Dracos are really good at it. - Pic by Kedar Bhide
Location: Dandeli, Karnataka
2. 'Pixels'
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This is a close up shot of a Peacock Paris butterfly. The minute details on it look like tiny neon pixels, which make for a brilliant look. Nature has so much to show us. Each time I see something like this, I feel we have much to learn. - Pic by Kedar Bhide
Location: Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh
3. 'Reflections'
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I shot this image when I was in Kaas, and enjoying the view of the flowers over vast expanses. I noticed these water droplets on Balsam flowers and could see the reflection of the plateau, which had come to life thanks to the blooming flowers. I thought that it's an unusual way of capturing the view. - Pic by Kedar Bhide
Location: Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra
4. 'The Frozen'
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In Ladakh, which is a high altitude desert, one gets a completely different view of the landscapes during the summers and winters. This lake was frozen during the winter. - Pic by Kedar Bhide
Location: Tso Moriri Lake, Ladakh
5. 'Glide'
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Manta Rays had been on my bucket list for a long time. When I went to Bali, I was hoping I'd get to see one, and I did! These are magnificent beings, and this one just glided over me. This is the only image in the exhibition that is not from India. - Pic by Kedar Bhide
Location: Bali, Indonesia
