As a child, Arvind Ramamurthy was given a roll of camera film during summer holidays. Of the 36 frames, he will reserve six the wildlife And will wait for weeks to see the results of his hard work. Today, decades later, he has a camera of his own, and likes to go on expeditions on weekends to capture the diversity of India’s wildlife.

The greatest labor of his love for the wild side of India is his nomination for the prestigious award wildlife photographer People’s Choice Award of the Year, organized by the Natural History Museum in London. His photo of a pack of Indian wolves is part of a shortlist of 25 images, chosen from 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories included in the photo competition, in addition to the 100 winning images announced earlier this year by the Natural History Museum and an international Had gone. judging panel.

As he awaits the final results, which will be announced in February 2025, we spoke to the 36-year-old photographer about the image that made it into the shortlist and why he believes we should change our attitude towards big cats. Why there is a need to go beyond the attractions, and document India’s lesser-known species.

Congratulations on being shortlisted! How does it feel to be recognized on such a prestigious platform?

The Natural History Museum’s WPY has always been one of the competitions I look forward to every year. I’ll spend time digesting revered images, all taking new perspectives, techniques and inspiration from the stories they tell about people and the environment. they are oscar wildlife photography,

I have been participating in competitions since 2016 and from watching the awards on YouTube stream to receiving the award for myself in London, I must admit that my art has matured. I feel honored and humbled by the honor and platform they have given me to share my image/story with the world.

Can you tell us about the specific photo that earned you this recognition? What is the story behind this?

“Wolfpack” is an image of five wolves sitting together and looking at my camera. It’s a natural history moment with an important story – all the wolves are on the farm. Their native habitat of grasslands is under threat due to agriculture, invasive weeds and human intrusion. More and more wolves are moving into agricultural areas where they often come into conflict with us humans. When wolves damage crops, farmers will naturally drive them out of their fields and the wolves will become nomads again.

A few months ago, I went back to Bhigwan (where this image was shot) to look for this pack but they were nowhere to be found in that area. Did they get lost? Did they find a better place? Did they all die? We will never know! With only about 3000 wolves left in the country, the wolf in India is even more endangered than the tiger.

What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting out as a wildlife photographer in India?

I believe that creating your vision is the biggest thing. How do I stand out in the crowd? How do I bring a photo to the table that has never been taken before? These were the questions I pondered in those days.

When you look up a species on the Internet, you will see hundreds of images. These are the kind of photos you don’t want, because they already exist. What could be new? How to get people to stop scrolling on your screen and pay attention? And of course, access to forests and equipment were always major challenges. To do wildlife photography one needs to be really well planned.

Among all your photography travels, is there a particular moment or photograph that is closest to your heart?

I like places where I am not bound by safari jeeps or time limits or other restrictions that come with commercial places. The places where I am on foot and can actually sit with my subjects and think about how to photograph them are the ones closest to my heart. If I don’t manage to find something today, I’ll come back tomorrow and the topics are still there. Isn’t it so cute? Some of those places are in the Western Ghats (Amboli, Agumbe, Dandeli, Valparai, Munnar, etc.), Jawai in Rajasthan and of course, Bhigwan near Pune.

The best moments are when you get the photo you imagined when you packed your bag for a trip. There is no better happiness than this! Because if you don’t get that picture, that scene will haunt you forever 🙂

Are there any lesser-known wildlife sanctuaries or sanctuaries in India that you believe more people should know about?

I encourage budding photographers to venture out to tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. In India, animals live right among the people. It would be misleading to only depict animals living happily in beautiful forests. Dirty pictures are important. Where the forest ends, fields and villages begin. This interface is where the stories are and should be explored more. This interface is where a lot of the protection work happens. This needs to be documented.

It is also important for photographers to discover some lesser known species. We are a nation known for its biodiversity and endemic species. Big cats have a charisma that speaks for them but how about that rare, tiny frog calling from within the bush? Who Will Tell Their Story?

In your opinion, how can wildlife photographers play a role in changing people’s attitudes towards nature and conservation?

You and I are sitting on big furniture, a bird has lost its home in a teak plantation – show that picture.

You and I love driving off road through forests, encountering wildlife intrusions and accidents – picture that.

You and I like to drink a hot cup of coffee in the morning while freshwater fish are dying around the plantations due to pesticides – picture that.

You and I buy products that can have a huge impact on the environment – show that impact in a picture.

You and I are not wrong; We may be unaware of our actions. Bring that awareness through pictures.

I believe that awareness is the key to changing people’s attitude towards nature and environment.

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