CHENNAI: A Safari jeep inches along a narrow cliff-top road. One wrong move and the vehicle will plunge over the edge, a deathly drop but a few feet away. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a powerful tusker comes charging down the road, right towards the jeep and its terrified occupants. Snapping into action, the driver puts the jeep in reverse, edging backwards to safety, the elephant threatening to push the vehicle over the cliff with every swish of his trunk... sounds like something out of a drama-packed Wilbur Smith novel?
Well, this is a tale adventurer Rathika Ramasamy shares. One of the few professional wildlife photographers in the country, she could regale you with more. Currently working on a coffee table book on Indian birds that’s slated to release early next year, this 40-year-old pioneer — yes, she was the first woman in India to take to this adrenaline-packed profession — comes across as someone who’s genuinely in love with wildlife.
“Everything I know about photography is self-taught. While growing up, I used to spend a lot of time reading my uncle’s collection of photography magazines. These inspired the photographer in me,” she begins. Born and schooled in Theni, Tamil Nadu, Ramasamy’s tryst with photography began with a small point and shoot film camera in school. “I love to travel and took a lot of photos on the road. I finished an engineering degree in computer science and an MBA at SRM College University in Chennai, before moving to Delhi (when I got
married). The many parks and sanctuaries around Delhi got me hooked on to wildlife photography,” she reminisces.
At 33, Ramasamy went professional, leaving behind her corporate career. “While I photograph wildlife across the board, I decided to specialise in birds. Now I conduct workshops on wildlife photography and dabble in online consultancy,” she offers.
On the go:
So why did Ramasamy choose birds as her No 1 subject? “Once, while visiting Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, I felt compelled to take home a tangible reminder of what was an exhilarating experience and relive it, over and over,” she recalls. In the years since, Ramasamy has visited national parks across the country — from Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Kerala to Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. “I’ve also been to Tanzania’s Serengeti — around this time of year, the great migration begins there, with wildlife moving towards Kenya,
offering awesome photo ops — and Manyara Lake National Park. I’ve always wanted to explore Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian bird haven. The problem with travelling to this region is that there is a lot red tape involved, since it’s on the international border. Trips to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, and Malaysia and Bali (awesome destinations for birders) are also on my ‘to do’ list,” she says and smiles.
Project list :
For Ramasamy, it’s all about the action shot.
“The genre has advanced a lot with the advent of digital cameras, seeing a progression from portraits to actions shots, be it a subject eating, hunting or courting a mate, and that’s what I look to capture,” she asserts.
Last year Ramasamy published Bird Photography — Birds of the Indian Subcontinent , a book featuring her best photos till then. She is currently putting together a 2011 calendar, which features nature on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, Delhi.
Is this a viable career option, monetarily?
“Initially it is a struggle, unless you’re assisting a big photographer. But once you’ve made a name for yourself, you’ll be earning at least Rs 5 to 10 lakhs a year,” promises Ramasamy.
It’s a woman’s call
Wildlife photography is a tough line for women, when compared to other genres of photography.
“Roughing it out is a part of the job. If you need to squat behind a bush to answer the call of nature, so be it,” she insists. Even so, the genre seems to be garnering a lot of interest among the fairer sex. “Nowadays, 50 per cent of the participants at my workshops are women,” says Ramasamy.
We’ve all had our heart strings tugged at, watching that nasty cheetah run down a doe-eyed gazelle on National Geographic. Do the same emotions come into play when Ramasamy’s on the job?
“I remember the time I witnessed a lion hunt in Africa. A breathtaking sight, but you can’t help feeling sorry for the prey. It’s the same thing when I photograph a Kingfisher swooping down to grab a fish — I see both the eyes of the bird and its catch clearly through the zoom lens. This extra special proximity that the camera allows, can make things doubly difficult,” she admits, quickly adding, “But then, this is the circle of life and if we try to mess with it, we’re only doing the environment harm, not good.”
The Safety Net
Camping out or trekking through a forest is not easy, agreed. And its not just a woman thing. If a man thinks he can just head out on assignment without a plan, that’s ridiculous, feels Ramasamy. “There are several times I’ve walked right into the path of a snake. In such situations, you’ve really got to know what to do to get through unscathed. Get a local guide, make a note of the closest water source. Pre-planning for every situation really helps,” she quips.
Ramasamy’s biggest support is her family.
“My husband knows I’m crazy about my work, and though he doesn’t know much about photography, he does enjoy the photos I take. I don’t have kids, but this is a personal choice and in no way related to my choice of career,” she tells us.
On the job
So what would we find if we rummaged through her bag? “Apart from equipment, you’ll find books (as back up to all the field info stored in my head), protection against rain, sun screen, a camouflage cape, energy bars and a few drinks. I generally have to hire an assistant, just to tug along my heavy kit!” she laughs.
Dressing right for the job is critical.
“Your head is your biggest giveaway, so a cape to cover you head is a must. Sometimes I resort to a scarf to cover my face and look quite the terrorist!
Wear muted colours — no bright reds please, or anything reflective either, like a metal watch Forests are overrun with mosquitoes and insects, so full sleeves make sense, as do leech-proof socks and water proof shoes. Perfumes, gels and creams are a no-no,” she advises.
Home or away?
Africa is an amazing place to shoot wildlife, but the Indian wild is more Ramasamy’s cup of tea.
“In Africa, there is so much wildlife, you always have the opportunity to compose a good shot. But in India, you have to literally track down wildlife and you’re not guaranteed to get the shot you want. Tracking the animal or bird is half the adventure, and this kind of excitement is what keeps me going,” she explains.
For all the noise being made about saving the tiger and our forests, is there any real improvement at ground zero?
“There are improvements,” says Ramasamy, elucidating, “All our national parks have routing systems in place, with GPS connectivity for every safari bus or jeep — this ensures that the drivers do not go off road and disturb the delicate balance of these environments.”
But there is only so much park personnel can do to keep wildlife safe. “If you ask me, something needs to be done to give poachers alternate, bread-winning skills,” she signs off.
The ABC of wildlife photography
Dos:
● Be thorough with the basics of photography. You don’t have time to think twice about a setting when a bird swoops down on its prey.
● Watch your subject only through the viewfinder. The moment you draw away is exactly when they do something interesting.
● Stabilisation lens (wildlife shots) and wide angle lens (nature shots) come in handy.
● A bean bag is must when shooting from a vehicle, to act as a shock absorber.
● Field knowledge, more than technical know-how, will contribute to your success. Do a course in the basics of bio-diversity.
● Develop your writing skills. It helps if you can accompany your photos with a write-up.
Don’ts:
● If you buy equipment before your course begins, you invariably end up with the wrong stuff. Hire out equipment at the start.
● Newcomers are so eager, they check their photos while still out in the field. This is a waste of battery, light and better photo-ops.
● Never stop shooting, even when you think you’ve got the perfect photograph.