UNCOVERING THE JUNGLE'S SECRETS

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND BIG CAT SPECIALIST SHAAZ JUNG'S ATTACHMENT TO THE JUNGLE IS MUCH DEEPER THAN HIS MULTI-LAYERED PICTURES. HE SPEAKS TO TINA THAKRAR ABOUT USING THE CAMERA TO UNRAVEL STORIES OF LIFE NESTLED IN THE WILD

- TINA THAKRAR

There's a reason we refer to jungles as the 'wild'. They're unpredictable, untamed, mysterious; but there's an inherent beauty in their ruggedness, and a delicacy in their ferocity. It's where you can see nature constantly at work, weaving intricate stories every single day. Capturing the fleeting moments that thread these compelling tales is wildlife photographer, big cat specialist, cinematographer and naturalist Shaaz Jung, who speaks the language of the jungle both with and without the camera.

Shaaz specialises in tracking big cats, more specifically leopards. His style is individualistic, and camps under a genre of photography that he describes as 'environmental surrealism. His pictures, which have been published and exhibited worldwide, reveal just how much he knows about these elusive animals. The photographs have rich artistic undertones, a poetic meld of light and shadow, and an invitation for viewers to descend into a world between dreams and reality. It's how he views the world, devoid of rules or limitations. "Photography is a journey of self- discovery, and I shoot for no one but myself. I hope to use this style to evoke emotion in the viewer, and to inspire them to embark on a personal journey too."