2019: A Delayed Beginning
I began wildlife photography with high hopes - something I had flirted with on my own for years, but never practiced seriously. For years I had been shooting birds, but not with much photographic knowledge.
In December 2019, I joined my first wildlife tour — a Toehold trip to Kabini. It felt more like a toe in the water than a leap. I stayed in one of Kabini’s waterfront villas, and even now, that setting remains one of my most memorable forest stays.
The forest introduced itself gently: a male tiger from the old Russell Line, herds of elephants, wild dogs, and birds everywhere. One evening, a tiger drank water in near-total darkness, then briefly walked the road — barely visible, yet unforgettable.
Soon after, I travelled to Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana National Park) for bird photography, again with Toehold, this time led by Harsha Narasimhamurthy. It was my first time meeting him — a meeting that would later shape many journeys. Sarus Cranes dominated the landscape, dignified and calm. I stayed at Birder’s Inn, right by the park, waking each day to birds instead of alarms.
The rest of 2020 fell silent. Like the world, the forests paused.
