A Mission for Preservation

From the wild lands of Kaziranga to the battlegrounds of Masai Mara, Jayanta Guha's passion for wildlife conservation burns bright as the sun. His unique way of capturing often-endangered animals have brought him a lot of praise and accolades over the 5+ years of his photography career. Asian Photography caught up with him about his passion for wildlife conservation, his unique style & workflow and his future.

- ANIRUDH IYER

How did you begin your journey in wildlife photography, and what motivated you to pursue this as a career?

I started with mobile photography - where I shot landscape, people, and street and at that time, I never thought I’d become a wildlife photographer. In 2019, when I bought my first DSLR, I started exploring birding in my backyard with a 70-300 lens. Initially many nature photographers inspired me but my actual desire was to be in nature and travel. Eventually, my motivation manifested into art in nature, and subsequently, conservation. Now, I am a full-time professional wildlife photographer and I’m glad to help our generation grow awareness about wildlife. I capture images and videos also for the people who can’t visit these places to see and experience nature.

What is the level of prep needed before hitting the field?

Preparation is crucial for every visit. As a wildlife photographer and field leader, my first necessity is fitness, mainly for Red Panda and Snow Leopard expedition. Wildlife photography often involves long hikes, climbing, or standing still for hours. Being in good shape helps me endure those physical demands. If I am visiting any location for the first time, I check the previously shot images of that location, which gives me an overall idea about the availability of animals and their behaviours that need to be studied. I carry clothing, medicine and protection for me and my gear based on the weather. I select my lenses, for framing 70-200mm f2.8, for close up portrait 200-600mm, according to the location. Most importantly, I read the conservation rules of that particular area.

You captured the day-to-day lives of some endangered animals through your lens. How do you see your images contributing to the cause of wildlife conservation?