AN EYE FOR THE WILD: SUYASH KESHARI

AN EYE FOR THE WILD: SUYASH KESHARI

Suyash Keshari is an amateur wildlife photographer, whose work has nothing to do with his age. In just age of 18 years he has an eye for wildlife photography that people get after years of experience in it. On one of the fine weekend of July, A.Kameshwari from One World News witnessed the work of this teenager and was amused about the talent he has. In an exclusive interview, Suyash expressed a lot more about his journey till the exhibition “I am just 18 years old and completed my high-school. I got my interest in wildlife photography since I was 3 years old. I used visit zoo with my grandfather, sitting on his shoulder, in Calcutta. I would love to be in zoo and the thought of them being caught up in a cage would always make me sad. Slowly my grandfather started guiding me on what to watch. So I started watching Animal Planet, National Geography, Discovery etc. and started developing interest in wildlife. Since my father was an IAS officer and we were posted in Chhattisgarh, wherever he used to go for meetings or field work I would tag along to see forest area. He would tell me little about forest and rest I would talk to forest people to know more about the wildlife. Soon I started reading about it and when I came to Delhi, when I was in 8th-9th class, I thought to do more studies about it. And in that time only I got a chance to visit Kenya with my father as he had a meeting there. I visited two national parks there Masai Mara National Reserve & another on, plus my fate was in favor so I also visited Ramthambore in Rajasthan (India) which even more grabbed my interest in wildlife photography.”

Where was your first experience of capturing wildlife and how was it?

My first experience of capturing wildlife was in Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) national park, where I had a good camera since my dad bought it. This experience has changed me a lot and I got involved and concentrated in wildlife photography since then. I have been travelling a lot (obviously at times of schools I couldn’t) in two months vacations and when I got good bunch of pictures I thought of displaying them and sell them too.

How you learnt this art?

I observed a lot of pictures and learnt the details about what is right and what is wrong through others photographer’s products and through my understanding this is how I shot the pictures.

Would you take it up as a career?

I still don’t know if I want to take it up as a career. I am still exploring my options. This is my first exhibition but something big like Sanctuary Asia, WWF, or Nat Geo approaches me then I might think of taking it as career. But right now, I have got lot of studies to do because I think studies are really important for whatever you do. I have already taken admission in North Carolina, USA.

Do you take precautions while being in the forest?

Yes of course! You are always in a jeep along with a guide and driver. You cannot enter a forest without them.

How has been people’s reaction to your work?

People’s response has been really good. I have been playing football and also a national level of footballer so my friends and dad’s friends thought of me only as a footballer who is also good in studies but they didn’t knew this side of me. When I showed up this side of me I got a lot of appreciation and they said that usually people get an eye for wildlife photography after they are 30’s or late 30 but I have already got those eyes. They have loved my work and my few pictures are already sold which was really amazing and surprising.

How long did it take for you to come up with all these pictures?

This is four years product. Usually I travel to national parks, especially Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha and Madhav Garh National parks. I know few people here who give me information and know how much I like it. They welcome wildlife enthusiast and photographers; they don’t make me roam around just like tourists or just for tigers. I am not only for tiger tourism I capture everything.

What/who has been your inspiration?

I always used to follow this magazine called Sanctuary Asia which I already spoke about. I have been a subscriber of it since 2003. The magazine portrayed a lot of photographers and they were really good. But right now my godly figure in photography, whom I have met and have taken few lessons about photography from, is Sudhish Shivaram. He is a Bangalore and currently India’s most celebrated wildlife photographer and also canon ambassador.

He gave me two advices which I think are the best advices till date: first – never ever under sell your images and reputation.Second: even if it’s very small part of your life, never leave photography. Cause staying close to nature would help you in real life as well if not professionally.

Are you committed: No! (laughs) my work is my commitment.

So do you think in future she can adjust with you?

Well she has to adjust and I would never put anyone before my work. I have a list where family is my first priority then my work, whatever it may be- from football to photography, anything I am interested in and studies, then there is space for anything else.

You can ask my friends and parents about it.

What other art forms interests you?

Mostly I like wildlife photography, not into anything as such. I always like observing other art forms.
I also promote conservation and protection of wildlife because that’s what has driven me to photography. I want the animals caught in cages to be free in jungle and would love to get into some social work for animals.