Our rainforest photography expeditions to Anaimalai every year yield several stunning images of various genres. Here are some moments in the wild frozen beautifully by the participants of the Anaimalai Photography Tour.
1. ‘The Night Call’, by Manu Sathyan
In the nights of the rainforests of Anaimalai, many a nocturnal creature comes to be active. Here’s a handsome and proud Raorchestes jayarami (also known as Jayaram’s bush frog) calling from coffee bush, its vocal sack looking as surreal as it can be, captured beautifully by Manu Sathyan.
2. ‘The ‘Fightwatchmen” by Manu Sathyan
These two baby lion-tailed macaques were quite tense as they watched two male lion-tailed macaques fight. Manu fondly recalls how these two little ones climbed on to a small perch to get a good view of the fight giving their observers an opportunity to capture the anxious but memorable moments.
3. ‘Poignant Similarities’, by Sheila Verghis
Sheila Verghis cannot help but describe certain poignant similarities between the behaviour of man and monkey, as apparent in this image of the little lion-tailed macaque cuddling close to the mother for warmth and safety, as she asserts and reminds her of humans and their babies.
4. ‘Photographing, the ‘Milky Way’, by Sheila Verghis
The grace and serenity of this stream is captured in a dream-like frame by Sheila Verghis in the forests of Anaimalai. She tells us how excited she was to try slow shutter speed photography for the first time to lend a milky effect to the flow of water.
5. ‘The Close Encounter’, by Sheila Verghis
The group of participants of the Anaimalai rainforest photography expedition was just 8 feet apart from this good-looking lion-tailed macaque. Sheila recollects how he was scrutinizing her just as she was gazing at him in awe through the lens of her camera, and how it was rather a bit intimidating to see him through a 500mm lens at such close quarters.
6. ‘A Special Calling’, by Sheila Verghis
Listening to frogs croaking and making mating calls during the night in the rainforests of Anaimalai is an experience second to none. Sheila’s first tryst with these frogs as her subjects of photography, as one can see, has been a memorable one with this beautiful image.
7. ‘Wise under Water’, by Arvind Seshachalam
There’s some sort of wisdom-like stance about these creatures, especially .when they are quiet and seemingly brooding. Arvind Seshachalam has captured one such moment, recalling how the elderly lion-tailed macaques were snoozed as it rained one day in Anaimalai, while the little one was too curious and kept an eye on him and other participants capturing this heartening moment.
8. ‘One of a Brood’, by Arvind Seshachalam
A monochrome image of the forest-hills of Anaimalai singing of all the colours of the wilderness. Arvind did not forget to include in this frame the brooding sky that’s not just gloom but also more of a keen, ominous beauty above the forest.
9. ‘Black, White and Bokeh’, by Arvind Seshachalam
A lion-tailed macaque gives a curious peep from behind a tree trunk. A photographers attentiveness brings out the attentiveness of this monkey, and the forest in the backdrop brilliantly ‘bokeh’ed… all in monochrome…
10. ‘Molting’, by Arvind Seshachalam
The life cycle of a cicada is rather moving. But perhaps its beauty lies in the minute details of its short life. Like this image here – a cicada is molting in the night and Arvind managed to make a stunning portrait of this storytelling moment.
11. ‘The Moon Moth’, by Arvind Seshachalam
A beautiful perspective of the Indian luna moth. This close-up shot brings out so many details of the front of the moth that would otherwise be missed by the naked eye during the night. The range of macro photography opportunities that Anaimalai offers is wide and wonderful.
12. ‘An Intimate Gaze’, by Rajiv Ramanathan
A Nilgiri langur in its habitat in Anaimalai. Rajiv Ramanathan has captured its presence as an amazing contrast with the the tree’s nuanced greens and teals. And the langur gazing at the lens has brought about more intimacy in this image.
13. ‘Scenic to the ‘Tea”, by Rajiv Ramanathan
The tea estates in Anaimalai are a treat to watch, especially from elevations. The contours and the disciplined growth of the estates look serene in this image made by Rajiv, with the mist-clad hills in the background adding mysterious grace to them.
14. ‘On a Grassy Slope’, by Rajiv Ramanathan
Two Nilgiri tahrs make their way on a grassy slope… slow and watchful… their measured steps frozen in this image to make a tender impact. Endemic to the western ghats, these animals are precious subjects for wildlife photographers.
15. ‘Trim and Proper’, by Rajiv Ramanathan
Another striking capture of the tea estates in Anaimalai. Under a grey sky stand neatly trimmed tea plants that are never riotous in their bearing but always poised, even if it is seemingly imposed. Anaimalai offers several opportunities for nature photography other than wildlife, and this is one such testimony to it.
