SLITHERING BEAUTY

In the context of wildlife sightings, often chance plays a big role. I was spending an early morning walking around a lake, clicking the birds perched on trees and on some of the rocks jutting about in the lake, when all of a sudden I saw a different type of movement in the water.

There were some ripples causing a wonderful pattern on the water surface and yet there was hardly any sound. Eyes had to be focussed more closely and ditto was the case with the camera lens.

Suddenly a sharp and clear picture emerged ……a snake silently slithering through just below the water surface ! Took several pictures, but the one which stood out for me was this one, with the head just above the water, the eye seen clearly and the colourful skin combining with the contrasting water ripples and the weeds with a mild glow of early morning light, all together giving me a beautiful composition.

For me, it was my first click of a snake and that too in water, and just as in case of so many joys which you get for the first time, a euphoric feeling, to remain in memory for long !

THE LORD GOD MADE THEM ALL

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all !

Sometimes simple creatures bring out so many wonderful perspectives.

Came across this dragon fly, while doing one of my early morning rounds. It continued hovering all over the place, jumping from one bush to another, and making me follow it and not allowing me the opportunity to aim the camera.

After sometime it probably realised that it had a fan following in me and offered me a few moments to take some snaps.

Zoomed the lens a bit, played around with the focus, looked for a suitable setting for the composition, click, click, click and waited for the picture to emerge……

…..the light blue coloured head perched atop a helicopter modelled body, finely detailed black patterns creating wonderful designs on the wings and, all this, contrasting with the green leafy background…..

…….I get more and more hooked to the wonders of photography with each passing day !

MEGA DUEL

What do you do when you see two huge hulks having a big fight in full intensity ? First, you think of your own safety.

I did that. Ensured that I was a safe distance away, safely tucked in my safari jeep.

And then ?

Then you absorb yourself into watching this great spectacle of two male Indian bisons (gaurs) hurling into each other, massive horns jutting out and then getting locked with those of the adversary.

It is all about brute force generated by the tonnes of weight of their massive bodies. The weaker ones in the herd stay away and watch the ongoing battle royale. It is nothing less than royale, for the winner gets the courtship of the female bison. She is nearby, and raises her head just once in a while to see the bull fight, but then she carries on with her munching.

Meanwhile, the fight continues. There are no half measures. No inch is given, none conceded.

I stand there enchanted. Capturing a rare moment in my wildlife sojourn.