Getting a great shot of lions in the wild requires hard work, perseverance, and loads of luck. So does having your photographs published in the form of a coffee table book. Wild life photographer Rohan Trivedi has managed to do both, with the publication of The Lions of Bharat, a collection of 97 portraits of the Asiatic lion, which was launched at the Jodhpur Art Gallery in Ahmedabad earlier this week.
Spanning ten years of work in the jungles of Gujarat, the book features 30 lions and lionesses, from cute young cubs to majestic elders. In an exclusive interview with VO! the 36-year-old photographer talks about his first breakthrough, the state of wildlife photography in Gujarat and why his book is dedicated to LK Advani:
VO!: How did you become a wildlife photographer?
Rohan: I took my first photographs of lions in 2012. Those days I was an executive with Tata Housing in Ahmedabad. I used to travel to my cousin’s place in Bhavnagar every weekend and then go to the jungles of Amreli. There, I came upon a pride of 20 lions and got some great shots. My work was featured in publications like India Today, Hindu, Ahmedabad Mirror and I was interviewed on Akashvani. This gave me confidence and in 2014, I decided to quit my job and become a full-time photographer. My parents were very supportive and that made a big difference.
VO!: How did your book come to be?
Rohan: It all happened very quickly. I was to have an exhibition of my photographs at Jodhpur Art Gallery as part of their Winter Festival. My friend and mentor Rahul Vyas, who I have known since my corporate days, said my photographs should be compiled as a coffee table book. His company, Emories, is the publisher.
VO!: Why is the book dedicated to LK Advani?
Rohan: I am not a very political person, but Mr Vyas is active in the RSS. It was his idea to dedicate the book to Mr Advani in his 97th year. The book has 97 photographs of the lion.
VO!: What does it take to get the perfect shot of a lion?
Rohan: First you need to find the lion, which is a very unpredictable animal.Then you need good light, good placement for the camera. You must be patient for all these things to come together. I visualise the shot I want in advance and this helps. My shot of three lion cubs was very lucky. The lioness rarely allows her cubs to come out into the open.
VO!: Why have you chosen to focus only on the Asiatic lion?
Rohan: I have taken photographs of wild leopards, reptiles, even insects, but nothing compares to lions. The more I get to know them, the more I admire them. They are magnificent, majestic animals, truly the kings of the jungle.
VO!: What is the closest you have come to a lion?
Rohan: Three inches. You need to know how to behave if a lion comes close to you. You do not make a noise; you do not move. You just stand still and it will pass you by.
VO!: Who are the leading wildlife photographers in Gujarat?
Rohan: I admire the work of Vipul Ramanuj, Saurav Desai, Shaaz Jung. I am also a fan of Dhritiman Mukherjee in Bengal. Many people take it up as a hobby, though it is an expensive hobby since you need expensive equipment. Making money out of it is not easy. Some photographers conduct workshops for wildlife enthusiasts. Then there are several competitions with substantial prize money, like Nature in Focus, Century Asia and one set up by Indigo Airlines with National Geographic.
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