Photographer exhibit features Sindagi

SYDNEY: Bangalore-based photographer Manoj Sindagi noticed a sculptural arrangement of sunbathing Indian pond terrapins (black turtles), while conducting a photography workshop in Nagarahole National Park. “They basked on the rocks, necks outstretched, seemingly offering salutations to the sun god,” says Sindagi.

 

He stalked them until close enough to photograph their reflections against the golden light. “Just as I pressed the shutter,” he recollects, “the turtle pile broke apart and slipped into the water — an opportunity to show my students, how important it is for a wildlife photographer to be familiar with an animal’s behaviour.”

 

This photograph has won him the highly commended title in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2006 competition owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine. Now in its 42nd year, the competition attracted over 18,000 photographs from 55 countries this year. Sindagi’s image in among the 92 images from the travelling exhibition of this competition.

 

38-year-old Sindagi has been dabbling in photography for the past 20 years, and his photographs have won more than 90 awards and certificates of merit in national and international photography competitions and salons.

 

His images have been featured in Encounters in the Forest – a book on wildlife by photographers from Karnataka, and in magazines like Sanctuary Asia, Sanctuary Cub, Better Photography and Asian Photography.

 

His images can be viewed on www.manojcsindagi.in. Sindagi also condjucts workshops in nature and wildlife photography for beginners and amateur photographers. “Wildlife photography involves a lot of reading and learning about animal behaviour, travel to wildlife sanctuaries and a lot of patience. You should be willing to spend lots of time outdoors and be ready for many disappointing field trips,” he explains.

 

Stunning wildlife images may seem like the products of a lucky moment — being at the right place at the right time. But experienced photographers will tell you otherwise. “I spotted what I thought was a strange eel and swam with it for an hour as it hunted over the sand,” says Sydney-based photographer Michael Aw, whose remarkable image of the mimic octopus renowned as a brilliant master of disguise has won the underwater category in the competition.

 

“It assumed the movement and shape of various marine creatures — from a sole to a ray and even a sea snake,” says Aw. “When I captured the image, it sort of scowled at me to leave and I smiled at the very clever impersonator of the sea,” he added.

 

Other dramatic images in this exhibition include a shy mountain gorilla baby transfixed by his first human encounter, a seal popping out of a hole in the ice, a group of Rockhopper penguins caught in rush hour traffic, and a lone pelican returning the camera’s glare. 

 

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007 competition launches in January 2007. See www.nhm.ac.uk for more details.