Darter Photography, a venture of me and professional wildlife photographer Shreeram, present our next photography tour. This time the focus is on wildlife and we will be travelling to the islands in the backwaters of Bhadra.
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River Tern Tour – Photography Tour of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
May 6th, 7th and 8th
Come summer, a grand spectacle unfolds in the small islands of Bhadra Reservoir. As the water level recedes and exposes the submerged rocks, thousands of River Terns and Pratincoles flock here to nest. It is chaos on the rocks as the dense pack of birds struggle for space to breed and raise their young ones. Little fledglings take baby steps on the rock even as the parents fly in with little fish in their beaks for feeding.
Darter Photography presents River Tern Tour – A photography tour to Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary to showcase this spectacle… and a lot more. Join expert wildlife photographer Shreeram M V, who served as a Naturalist at Bhadra and has explored every corner of the sanctuary.
Tour Details
For the wildlife photographer, this dense gathering of River Terns and Pratincoles is an opportunity never to be missed. We approach these islands on boats to witness and capture every bit of interaction of the Terns and Pratincole with their young ones. And it doesn’t end there – we go into the heart of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, teeming with animals like tigers, leopards, wild dogs, elephants, Malabar Giant Squirrels and Monitor Lizards. Not to forget are the Marsh Crocodiles basking on the reservoir banks.
Besides pratincoles and river terns, the birdlife in the region includes Grey-headed Fish-Eagles, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Scarlet Minivets and even the elusive Malabar Trogon. Watching the huge Malabar Pied Hornbills flying across the reservoir is a treat in itself.
The islands nestled in the dense forest make a grand spectacle where colourful sunsets over the backwaters offer another great photography opportunity. We will be staying in one of these islands, a scenic location in itself.
The tour includes:
- Two jeep safaris into the park and two boat safaris on Bhadra Reservoir
- Session on photographing wildlife – techniques, aesthetics and ways to approach the subjects
- Assistance on field in getting best images
- Daily image reviews and feedback at the end of every day’s shoot
- On-field assistance in identifying birds and in understanding wildlife in the park
All through the tour, constant guidance from Darter Photography Expert will help you get the best out of your trip to the wilderness.
Please note that while chances sightings are fairly high, we cannot give you any assurance.
Is this tour for you?
River Tern Tour is ideal for you if you have an interest in watching and photographing a wide range of wildlife – from mighty tigers to tiny birds. Our photography expert will get you prepared for photographing wildlife and will assist you in every step of making good photographs.
Accommodation
We will be staying in River Tern Lodge, run by Jungle Lodges and Resorts.
Tour Cost
The tour cost is Rs.10,500/- per person.
The cost includes
- Accommodation on twin-sharing basis at River Tern Lodge
- All meals during the stay (starting with lunch on check-in date and ending with breakfast on check-out date)
- Jeep Safaris into the park and Boat Safaris on the reservoir
- Session on wildlife photography, on-field assistance and image reviews
The cost does not include
- Transport to River Tern Lodge and back (we can assist those looking for transport or interested in car pooling)
- Additional food and beverages ordered at the resort
- Tips and anything else that is not part of the includes list above
Book this tour
Contact us to book the tour. Like all our tours, River Tern Tour will have a limited number of participants..
email: register@darter.in
Ph: 9880006460 (Arun) / 97400 83260 (Shreeram)
Do visit Darter’s facebook page to stay updated on our tours and workshops.
Darter Photography Expert: Shreeram M V
Shreeram is a passionate naturalist and a professional wildlife photographer, with experience of working as a naturalist at River Tern Lodge. His wildlife images are widely acclaimed have found place in glossy desktop calendars and wall hangings.
Shreeram has the experience of photographing wildlife across multiple habitats across India – from the rainforests to the high-altitude deserts to grasslands to coasts. He comes with vast expertise in bird photography, having photographed hundreds of species from places as far as mountains of Ladakh to seashores of South India. See some of his works at http://www.visualquotient.net
Having spent some time as a naturalist exploring the wilderness of Bhadra, Shreeram is your perfect wildlife guide and photographer to get introduced to the fauna of the region and come back with great images.
What our guests say
“Thanks for the patience of Arun and Shreeram has, they were able to extract quality pictures from us.” – Darshan (Bangalore)
“I guess this was the best learning I ever had.” – Madhu Chandan (Bangalore)
This article appeared in March issue of Terrascape, a travel magazine for which I am an editorial consultant and also write a column on photography. Read all the earlier earlier travel photography articles on India Travel Blog.
Monuments, heritage sites and artworks can be tricky subjects to photograph. Although the subjects can be beautiful in itself and it may not take much effort to make them look good (Taj Mahal, for instance), photographers often commit the mistake of merely reproducing the work of art. A simple photograph of a mural becomes just a replica of the original work of art even if it is looking good, where the photographer is not really adding any value. Unless great care is taken, picture of a sculpture or a monument may end up becoming a two dimensional repetition of the subject and may even loose the charm in the original work. The photographer must make an effort to showcase a monument or sculpture from different perspectives. Let’s look at ways to overcome these challenges.
Lighting. When the light falling on an object is incident from a side of the object and not directly from the front or behind the object, it casts shadows at the edges and at the depressions. When the light is directly on the subject, all shadows are eliminated, making it flat and two dimensional in your image. Backlit objects appear dark in the picture. Take photographs at the time of the day when you have sidelight, which helps create the third dimension in your photograph. At the same time, make sure you are not shooting in very harsh light, when shadows cast are very dark and you may not be able to capture details in the shaded areas.
Some monuments managed by Archaeological Survey of India have ‘Sound and Light Shows’ in the evenings. Carry a tripod and photograph them in the colourful floodlights.
Environment. If the monument is in a dramatic location, include its environment. Take a picture of Taj Mahal with River Yamuna in front of it. Photograph Hampi’s monuments against the boulder strewn landscapes or Mandu’s structures against the water bodies. A good surrounding can enhance the beauty of the monument by manifolds in your photograph.
Variations. A few guidelines that apply in making any subject look good in a photograph can also be applied to photographing monuments. Try to capture multiple perspectives by going around the monument. Shoot in early morning light. Capture not just the details of a monument, but silhouettes as well. Include people in the frame to show scale and infuse some life into the image. Remember that every subject offers endless possibilities in capturing it. Study the subject well; come back in another time of the day or in a different seasons and see variation in the moods of the monument. The variety you will then see in your photograph will surprise you.
Prints of the image available. Request for prints
Along with fellow professional photographer Shreeram MV, I will be conducting a two-day workshop on digital photography at the end of this month in Bangalore. Read on for more details. Also join Darter Facebook Page to stay updated on upcoming workshops and photography tours.
This event is now fully booked. We will soon announce the dates of next workshop. Please email us at register@darter.in to get notified about upcoming workshops.
Dates and Venue
Saturday and Sunday, March 26th and 27th 2011
At Nandhana Grand, Koramangala, Bangalore.
Introduction
This workshop introduces you to the technical, artistic and social aspects of photography. You will learn about the concepts of photography, what the different modes of a camera mean, how to compose a photograph so that it catches the eye, how to post-process it to reflect reality or make it artistic, and, in an increasingly connected world, how to share it online. So the next time you click a photograph, you’ll create a memory to cherish.
Intended Audience
If you have an interest in photography and are keen to take better photographs, this workshop is for you. You would be required to bring your digital camera to the workshop.
Topics covered
Classroom Sessions
- Concepts of photography
- Introduction to photography
- Learning what makes a good photograph
- Technical aspects of making a photograph
- Focus, Aperture, Shutter-speed, ISO, Depth of Field, Exposure, Metering
- Camera modes and making the best out of your camera
- Understanding digital cameras and associated photography gear
- Composition – making visually appealing pictures
- Understanding quality and play of light
- Types of photography and their nuances
- Post-processing
- Social Networking and Photography
Field Session
- Guided outing session to practice concepts learnt in the classroom
- Review of photographs from field session
Registration Details
The workshop fee is Rs. 3,500/- per person.
Please email us at register@darter.in or call us at 9880006460 (Arun Bhat) / 9740083260 (Shreeram M V) to know more details and to register. Alternately, you can also send your queries or registration through the contact-form at the bottom of this page.
Your Photography Experts
Arun Bhat
Accomplished travel and landscape photographer Arun Bhat’s works have been used by publications in India and across the world, all the way from Japan to USA. He is a professional photographer who has extensively travelled across India, creating some of the finest imagery of India’s landscapes and heritage sites. Some of his work can be viewed at www.paintedstork.com
Shreeram M V
Shreeram is a passionate naturalist and a professional wildlife photographer. He has photographed wildlife across multiple habitats across India – from the rainforests to the high-altitude deserts to grasslands to coasts. He comes with vast expertise in bird photography, having photographed hundreds of species from places as far as mountains of Ladakh to the beautiful forests of the North-east to the vast wildernesses of Kutch to the seashores of South India. See some of his works at www.visualquotient.net
Register
Use the contact-form below or email us at register@darter.in or call us at 9880006460 (Arun Bhat) / 9740083260 (Shreeram M V) to know more details and to register.
[contact-form 8 “Photography Workshop”]
