I have always had a soft spot for animals and birds. Growing up we always had a lot of pets, especially birds and dogs. When I joined Cairn, there was a small group of wildlife enthusiasts in the HR team and I once joined them for a trip to Ranthambore. That was where it all began for me, and it was love at first sight with the majestic beauty of the “Tiger”. The sight was nothing less than breathtaking, and I just fell in love. At that time, I didn’t even have a camera. I noticed some jeeps with people shooting with these massive lenses. That’s when I decided I needed to get myself a DSLR camera to be able to capture these magical moments. I started with a Canon 100D, and over time, I have upgraded my camera. Recently I bought the Canon R6 mirrorless camera.
For me, though, it is not just about being lucky enough to glimpse a tiger. I enjoy being inside the jungle; the feeling is so amazing. It brings so much joy and happiness just being there in the lap of nature. I have travelled to a lot of the jungles in India, like Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Kabini, Kanha, Pench, and Tadoba. I got the opportunities to capture the magnificent tiger and other creatures in their natural habitat. For birding, I have travelled to Bharatpur, Sattal and Dandeli, where I got to capture and spot some spectacular birds.
For my 10-year Long Service Award, I travelled to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and had the opportunity to witness the amazing landscape and photograph a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, and plenty of lions of all sizes. It was truly an amazing experience.
The jungle is my happy place and nothing gives me more joy than being with nature and seeing the beautiful animals and birds through my lens and capturing them for posterity.
Contributed by: Susan Beale
