Each and every photograph has a story hidden behind its images. Likewise the wildlife photographs by Neelakandan Madavana on display at the ongoing exhibition ‘Wild Ghats’, in Durbar Hall also tells the story of hours of patience and extreme risk taken to get the perfect shots. Be it the shot of Nilgiri Tahr which he got after waiting for two hours in the cold mist of Rajamala or the Asian Elephant’s shot, where lady luck saved Neelakandan within seconds from an attack from the amok elephant, all speak of his dare-devil streak and perseverance. “All the pictures are extremely close to my heart. Luck really aided me a lot for the Nilgiri Tahr shot. When it was taken, there was a hell lot of mist and I was not getting the shot I was looking for. Then I noticed this particular Tahr and finding a good place, I finally got the desired picture after waiting a bit. But seconds later, the shot the mist reappeared,” says Neelakandan who has not undergone any professional course in photography.
The exhibition which has 40 exhibits on display show the rarest of the species which are either endangered or are least conserved. “The Nilgiri Blue Robin whose picture I shot three months ago is a rare species. Then I got a shot of this migratory bird called Sanderling from Chavakkad beach, Thrissur. And another of Sandplover,” says Neelakandan who has also won the Kerala State Photography Award for the year 2009.
This is Neelakandan’s first solo exhibition and through this he wants to change the attitude of people towards nature and wildlife. “The exhibition exhibits various rare species of mammals and birds which are facing the threat of extinction. The aim is to inculcate the bare truth that, we humans are not the only inhabitants of the earth, we are accompanied by many other fellow beings who have the same right to breath the air that we do,” says Neelakandan who is a UI Designer by profession. Ask him how he manages between his career and passion, he says, “On all holidays, I visit the forests and wild life sanctuaries in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.”
Ask him about the opportunities available in wildlife photography, and the 31-year-old says, “Opportunities are in fact nil for wildlife photography in India. I took up this five years back for the love for nature and wildlife. The sense of satisfaction I get when I take the perfect shot, after taking many risks, is something money cannot equate.”
Though wildlife photography sounds thrilling and adventurous, it has risks attached. “Before going anywhere for a shoot, one has to study the forest thoroughly. You need to be aware of the climate, the topography the animals that will be found there. Then once the subject for the shoot is decided, a detailed research has to be done on that particular animal and its behaviour. I am also thankful to my guru Naseer Ommer who is a herpetologist by profession. His vast knowledge on wildlife has helped me a lot,” says Neelakandan for whom it took five years of hardwork to document such an exhibition. To capture the amazing shots, Neelakandan uses canon 7D and canon 40D cameras. “All the pictures I take is with my 7D and 40D and use sigma 150x500 lens. Sometimes I even use my friends’ lens.” says this alumnus of St Albert’s College.
Neelakandan’s commitment for nature does not end here. He is planning to make a wildlife and nature document of Western Ghats. “Through this document I want to show how human life is dependent on wildlife and all the video for it will be shot using my 40D. Another project in my wish list is mangroves,” he adds.
The ‘Wild Ghats’ is on till September 16 from 11 am to 7 pm.
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