About me

It all began with my passion for bird watching back in 2005. I was introduced to one of Nagpur's most skilled bird watchers, and from that point on, I started joining them on bird-watching expeditions. As I honed my ability to spot and identify birds, I began using my friend's camera to capture clear images of these feathered creatures. Initially, it was just a basic point-and-shoot camera, mainly used for identifying the birds we encountered during our outings. However, everything changed when I made my first visit to Pench National Park's Turia gate in 2005. It was during this trip that I realized photography was much more than just taking identification photos. The sight of a majestic Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat completely altered my perspective and drew me into the world of photography. In those early days, I relied on borrowed cameras to pursue my newfound passion. Over time, my visits to nearby forests like Pench, Tadoba, and Nagzira became more frequent, and my photography skills continued to improve. My interests extended beyond photography. I became involved in organizing birding expeditions for school students and delivering presentations on birdlife and conservation in Nagpur. I had the opportunity to work with TigerWatch during the Chambal Gharial Expedition, where I focused on bird studies. Additionally, I volunteered for a camera trap project in Akole, where I had close encounters with leopards. Eventually, I had to put my camera aside and start a career in the IT industry. The early years of my career kept me away from photography. However, after a significant break, I rekindled my passion for photography, this time with my own camera. Living in Pune, I explored various photography genres, including weddings, pre-weddings, maternity, and baby shoots, for a brief period. Yet, I realized that my true comfort lay in capturing animals rather than humans. This led me back to wildlife photography, where I've continued to grow and evolve. While I consider my camera an essential part of me and strive to take it everywhere, sometimes it's not feasible to carry a DSLR at all times. It was during these moments that I ventured into phone photography, inspired by experts in the field. This is a brief glimpse of my journey. I love sharing my experiences from the wild and would be happy to share more if we ever connect. I hope you enjoy my photos! 🙂 Feel free to drop me a note from the Home or Contact Me section. Cheers, Neeraj Gade