The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will
theodore Roosevelt
Wildlife photography has become a popular hobby today. Scores of photographers have taken to this craft, from shooting animals in their backyard to national parks and forest reserves. Social media has seen the proliferation of pages featuring images of wildlife from across the globe.
But over time, photographers have overtly chosen big, charismatic megafauna as their preferred subjects. Tigers, elephants and leopards garner all the attention, leaving frogs, insects and lizards watching from the sidelines. Typically, the spotlight is occupied by mammals, some birds and a few reptiles.
Every animal is beautiful in its own right, each deserving its time in the spotlight.
This trend exists in the conservation world as well. Charismatic animals like the Giant Panda and Tiger swallow enormous funds, leaving little for other species. Due to their attractive nature, much of the world’s conservation efforts are skewed in their favour. In the process, unappealing animals, like frogs and snails, for example, are cast a cold shoulder (explained in this video).
This puzzles me because it is often these underdog species that are the most fascinating.
I strive to break free from this biased outlook on wildlife. Every animal is beautiful in its own right, each deserving its time in the spotlight. So through my work (photography, art and writing), I embrace a balanced approach, focusing on all animals, however large or small.
These photo collections are my attempt to shine a light on some of the world’s overlooked creatures.
Lizards, Frogs and Insects
Snakes
The Malabar Giant Squirrel
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Ishan Shanavas 