THEIR LENS ROMANCES THE WILD
This photo exhibition takes Delhiites on a trip to the African plains of Serengeti
Aditya Dogra
Endless plains, wildebeests in migration, leopard cubs playing on trees, a pat of flamingoes enjoying the water, and a pride of lions enjoying their kill — not everyday does one get the chance to witness the endless marvels of Serengeti, (Tanzania, Africa). But, an ongoing photo exhibition promises to transport you to the endless Tanzanian plains, and all its beauty. Titled, Up Close & Personal (Serengeti Wildlife), the exhibition showcases shots of the Serengeti wildlife by shutterbugs Sidharth and Madhushree Birla from three of their trips to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. “We first went to Serengeti in 2012 and fell in love with it. Its stark beauty and sheer scale has attracted us and we’ve been visiting it ever since then. I personally love the cats of Serengeti — the leopards, lions, and cheetahs — and have captured many key moments with them,” says Sidharth, adding, “We’ve visited the place during the migration season, which is the summer months in India. A time that allowed us to witness these animals up close.”
What makes these photos come to life is not just their balance of colours and lighting, but also the stories attached to them and the couple enjoys narrating them. He says, “Madhushree and I’ve captured a leopard cub playing with an abandoned bean bag, a male hippopotamus charging another to defend his territory, a pride of lions after a fresh kill and even Maasai natives with their painted markings. All the photos have a story behind them and moments that we’d cherish forever.” The couple says that this exhibition is a tribute to the region that has gifted them with a spell of magic and enchantment, and they promise to bring back more of such moments, every time they make a visit.
So, if you share their love for photography of the wild, this one’s a must visit.