Editor’s Note: A quick glance at the Wildlife Images taken by this wildlife photographer will leave you speechless. The right use of dark tones and perfect usage of light, make her images feel just awe. The uniqueness in her wildlife photography is the magical touch of emotions captured in a crisp and picture perfect way.
Featuring one of the most passionate wildlife photographer – Pallavi Laveti. I’m sharing my Top 10 favorites from her work. I really had a tough time to pick the Top 10 from her work.
– Alvis Lazarus, Chief Editor, Wild Photography
* Reach out to the editor here – Link
About the Wildlife Photographer
Wildlife Photographer Pallavi Laveti
Pallavi Laveti is a MBA grad who started her career as an HR business partner. She worked in an investment banking firm for 4 years. A Jungle Safari with a DSLR in her hands changed her life forever in ways that she had never dreamed of. She quit her job and started to do full time wildlife photography. She aims to inspire others and make a difference through creative photography and storytelling.
Pallavi says “I wont say life has been easy on this path, but the physical and emotional pain just pushes you harder than ever. The Journey is filled with excitements and learning – Enjoying the comfort of the van on jungle safaris, shortness of breath on the Himalayas, conquering the fear of bugs, crouching in caves to approach snakes at a kissing distance, blistering heat of Ranthambore in May, sub zero temperatures of the Thar are few of those exciting moments. I have also realized that the love for wildlife and nature changed me as a person, wherein I have started to look at actions along with their consequences; to name few – avoiding plastic, limiting factory farmed meat, conserving water and electricity. While i still continue to learn, wander and explore, I thank fate for putting me on this path.
Pallavi also work at ‘The fishing cat conservancy’ in their efforts to protect the mangrove ecosystem and wildlife.
Note: After reading the write up by Pallavi, Our Editorial team decided to keep her words as such without making the editorial changes. The reason is – we found those words may not be perfect but it reflected the true words of a passionate wildlife photographer.
(1) Elephant and Calf
The mammoth and the minuscule,
The valiant and the vulnerable,
The stupendous and the small,
And bond in between!
If a safari guide asks you, what is the animal you would like to see today, be sure to add an elephant baby to the list. Because the beauty is…you would rarely ever see an elephant baby all by itself.
You will almost always find it with it family, and what you find there is a bond that binds that family and all families, together – yours, mine, the lions, the zebras, everything!
Elephants are known to foster bonds and experience a range of emotions just like us. In this image, you find the protective mother towering over the baby and sitting in the vehicle, we all knew, she would probably do anything to keep that baby out of harms way. That begs the question, if we are so similar at the primal level, why does human empathy not extend to them?
Elephant and Calf
(2) Giraffes
This is an image I would like to call – Bouquet of Giraffes.
Sometimes the wild takes you by surprise. A wonderful surprise. And somehow, it is almost always when you are least prepared for it. This sight presented itself to us on a day when the rains lashed out at us mid safari. All photography equipment was tucked away in our ponchos as we held onto it against the strong winds.
And then at a sharp turn, we see this spectacular almost choreographed arrangement.
Such is the impact of this sight, that contrary to everything rational, out came the camera through the hood of the poncho, and I clicked away a couple of pictures, barely squinting through the downpour, fighting to protect my camera and lens and it was all for two seconds before the tower dispersed.
Safely tucking the camera back in and hoping I hadn’t damaged it, we drove away not with anxiety but with satisfaction.
Sometimes there are these moments that just call for some madness!
Giraffes in Sync
(3) Lion Cub
This memory is called “blissful ignorance ” which was the case for this cub frolicking away in the shade of the shrub and the warmth of his mother, oblivious to the wild outside the two. If I have to put in words the thoughts that ran through my mind, it would be in the form of this poetry –
‘O sweet child
with that innocence in your eyes
where i can see the deep blue skies
play to your hearts desire
with a doting pampering sire
for the future is all but fun and play
for your existence you’ll have to slay
Sharpen those claws writing stories on barks
for it isn’t an easy road to embark
but worry not o sweet child
you will make it, no matter what in the future lies
because you have your mothers spirit and her eyes!’
A Playful Lion Cub
(4) Water Monitor Lizard
A Water Monitor Lizard from the Manas River in Bhutan. Observing the colors and stripes of this reptile against the plan green background will remind you of another beautiful yellow creature with stripes in the thicket. Incidentally, we found him just as we turned the boat to leave and such is the enthusiasm of the nature lovers and photographers that we nearly capsized it as all of us rushed to the other side of the boat simultaneously. But true madness is in the afterthought that it wouldn’t have been a bad thing if that would have happened either.
A Lizard’s Stare
(5) Saw-Scaled Viper
This is an image of a Saw-scaled viper found in Rajasthan. The image was clicked in the dark as we found this juvenile viper curled by the side of the road. Two features are very characteristic of this nocturnal reptile, apart from the fact that these are highly venomous snakes. 1 – They move with a peculiar unique sound as their oblique scales (evident from the image) rub against each other, which is where they get their name from. 2 – They coil into an S-shape looped pattern and move slowly when they are alert, assuming a position of attack. Combined, it is one of the few hair raising sounds you hope you never have to hear in the pitch black nights in these areas.
Viper Portrait
(6) Red Panda
I remember vividly the first time we saw this Red Panda. Frantically running through the winding forest, dodging the creepers, crawling under branches, clutching my stomach, I was out of breath when we reached him. As finally we looked upwards in the dense forests of Singalila national park, amidst the green , we see a furry, fiery ball of cuteness. And it is a feast to the eyes! But mixed in all that awe is the undeniable realization of the painful threat challenging their existence. Poaching, feral dogs and inbreeding have pushed them into the dreaded endangered category. And as we stood at that altitude with a painful neck, short of breath and a light head, we couldn’t imagine having a world without anything to go through this trouble for! It would be pointless, wouldn’t it?!
Red Panda in a Gorgeous Light
(7) Male Lion in Grass
The lion in the image is the King of the much known, much tracked Marsh Pride of Masai Mara. We found this pride lazily sleeping at the far end of the grasslands. We stayed patiently, waiting to see what happens, and then one by one, they arose as the sun began to set. First the lionesses and then finally the king. It was perfect timing, the setting sun , the golden light reflecting off the grass blades and the mane – it was picture perfect. This was the king with a mane like the setting sun!
King in Twilight
(8) Woodpecker
Ranthambore is known for its Tigers with people from all over the world thronging to watch this beautiful beast in all its glory. But in that frantic chase to catch a glimpse , we tend to miss the hidden jewels in the forest. Gems that are hidden behind bushes, perched on branches or even suspended on tree trunks. One such gem is this flameback woodpecker. Not an uncommon bird but in that light , it looked like the yellow that will draw your eye. Another beautiful yellow in that forest!
A black-rumped flameback
And a peeking beak
Stand out beneath a single leaf
As yellow and red come together
And paint this beautiful scene!
Woodpecker Portrait
(9) Tiger’s Love
Each relation in every species is characteristic and unique to its kind, but there is one that transcends all and is unequivocally the same in all – the bond between a mother and her offspring.
This was the interaction between Krishna and her cubs, a sighting one can’t forget in a hurry. Basking in the cooling waters of Ranthambore, taking refuge from the merciless heat, Krishna seemed restless and we soon discovered why, as she started calling out to her cubs, and fervently so. I presume that relaxation to her was not simply about the climate, but also about the company. Now the roar of a tiger is a glorious raspy baritone sound that could rustle a wave of goosebumps on any person hearing it. But this was different. It was hauntingly beautiful. Eyes shut and ears flat against her head, she continued to call.
No later than a moment, two cubs emerged from the thicket, obediently responding to her summons. They slowly approached the pool to accompany their mother. But what is remarkable is that both the cubs had very different mannerisms and seemed to share very different chemistry with her. While one cub headed straight into the pool to take a swig of water, the other one, oblivious to everything else moved directly towards his mother. In what was a display of affection so obviously present, he slowly nudged his mothers head, licked her forehead and only then did he slowly slip into the waters. All along, this cub would not for a second leave his mother’s side. He would be mischievous, he would be doting, he would shower her with affection and longingly crave her attention. His affection towards Krishna was infectious. He followed her out of the water and continued with his adorable tomfoolery.
All the while, not only did Krishna sit and entertain his antics with patience, but she seemed to be enjoying it all the same. It was a strangely satisfying huddle of closed eyes and flattened ears, one that will remain in my memory for the longest of time.
Tiger Mother’s Love
(10) Lion and Cub
A space of caution
Of fear, of reverence
Of longing attention
Filled in those eyes, the wonder
Of the mammoth size
Unquestionable power
Unmatched strength
The space is
The distance between
the idolizing aspiration of today
And the ruthless ambition of tomorrow
This is the space between a cub and his father
I cannot think of a better way to put to words the moment that existed between the father and the cub. The cub took all the liberty with his mother, not letting her get a moments’ sleep but with he father, he approached with caution, hesitation. Another chemistry that a lot of us would be able to relate with.
Father and Son
Editor’s Concluding Note:
I’m sure Pallavi Laveti’s work made you speechless too. I wish this Young and Ambitious Wildlife Photographer the very best on her future endeavors! I’m sure she will scale up greater heights and make us so proud!
All the content and images are provided to us by Pallavi Laveti for publication. If you have any issues related to the content or images, you can reach me at this Link
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