The wow pictures speak for themselves, and one might think there isn’t much of a need to write about them. But it always makes good reading to know what goes on behind the scenes to capture those wow moments. So here we are in conversation with, and sharing the exceptional clicks, of a talented and passionate Nature photographer, a relatively late starter, who is increasingly making his presence felt in this fascinating field.
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Sitting in his expansive shop, retailing garments in Chandigarh’s City Centre, Anuj Jain (45) could go as a typical businessman, deftly overseeing the walk-ins and walk-outs.
Nature photographer Anuj Jain
Photo courtesy: Anuj Jain
But there’s a clear differentiator. His observant eyes are apparently wired up to a very discerning brain which allows him to quickly identify and lock on to an opportunity, which he then pursues with utmost commitment and extreme patience to produce remarkable Nature photography, recognised by international professional magazines and organisations.
A selection of this engineer-businessman’s amazing Nature and wildlife clicks is reproduced as part of this write-up some of which have found their way into international professional magazines like Nat Geo India, National Geographic Traveler India, The Times UK, Daily Star UK and Sanctuary Asia, besides the UN Annual Calendar 2021.
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The interesting part is that Anuj, by choice, does not travel to far off places and necessarily depend on high end equipment to capture wildlife, especially birds, in their natural habitats. Most of his works of art have materialised during his numerous trips to the far side of the Sukhna Lake, Thapli Nature Camp and the local parks in and around Chandigarh.
He also does not believe that a person can pursue serious photography only if he/she has a knack for it. He feels that interest in photography can be inculcated and developed at any age. Giving his own example, he says though he always harboured a deep interest in Nature and wildlife, he took to serious or productive photography quite late in life.
Anuj purchased his first camera, a basic Olympus point-and-shoot digital camera, when he enrolled for a two-year MS in engineering course in the USA way back in 2001. He did some photography to capture the fun moments during his various outings during this period, including a trip to the famous Niagara Falls. He unfortunately lost his entire collection with his laptop, which was stolen.
After his return to India he nearly completely lost touch with photography for over a decade, before, having planned a leisure trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2014, he gifted himself a first basic DSLR camera, a Nikon D3200 with 18-55 mm & 55-200 mm lenses and also did a very short duration basic course in photography to learn the controls of the camera.
However, his photography in the world famous game reserve was nothing much to write home about, though he did continue to pursue it to justify his investment in the camera.
Gradually, as he became more and more comfortable with the Nikon D3200 and his frames began to get noticed, he upgraded to a Nikon D750, a camera he used for seven long years before very recently pampering himself with a real high end Nikon Z8.
During this journey in pursuit of photography, Anuj tried his hands at capturing landscapes, street life and still-life photography, but in 2019 he began to focus on birds, and soon realised that he felt most comfortable and satisfying doing that.
“Fortunately for me, I started receiving success at every stage whether in terms of my photographs being displayed in photo exhibitions, prominently carried in prestigious professional magazines, or winning photographic contests,” shares Anuj.
Ever since then, he has been concentrating exclusively on framing these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat, and giving the world of photography remarkable frames which tell a story.
He feels, “In Nature photography, especially, it is important to be able to capture those fleeting moments which inspire awe in the beholder. It is painstaking work, observing the behaviour of the birds in their natural habitat without disturbing them, while at the same time being mindful of your own safety. And, when the birds are comfortable with your presence, and go about their routine, wait patiently for that story-telling moment and make sure to capture it in your frame in a split second.
“Having a good understanding of your gear, using the right equipment, understanding the light and the background, and using the right shutter speed are other important factors to be kept in mind for optimum results. Having a mentor helps. You can always fall back on him for a critique of your work and advice,” he adds.
YouTube is another good teacher for Anuj. He closely follows the works of exceptional photographers, Mark Smith for example.
In his opinion, despite tremendous advancements in photographic technology and the challenges posed by the deployment of AI (artificial intelligence), there is nothing to beat a good photographer’s “unique perspectives”.
Failures are an integral part of any pursuit, more so in Nature photography, Anuj says and advises against getting disheartened. “Patience and persistence pays, though luck also plays a role. Learn to enjoy the moments spent in the lap of Nature while going about your work. There cannot be a more natural form of meditation,” he avers.
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