There is no intended complexity to Jaisimha’s ideas of travel and photography. His meditations on the same revel in their simplicity — always a delight to see such candor in conversations. We share his thoughts on our Client Corner this week.
Jaisimha was born in a family of photographers. He was handling cameras ever since he can remember and carried one on all his travels. He was that person with the camera whenever he set out to see a new place with family or friends, and the art of making images was something he got introduced to even before he contemplated at all about it.
His love for wildlife, however, began rather unexpectedly. All it took was a family holiday to Kabini about three years ago. “On my very first wildlife trip, I was fortunate to see a tiger, a leopard, dholes, gaurs and other various wildlife. This is how my tryst with the big cats started from my very first wildlife safari, and how it piqued my interest in wildlife. So far, I haven’t returned from any my wildlife tours without seeing big cats!” says Jaisimha.
Jaisimha wanted to explore and photograph various animals more frequently and started to look out for groups with which he could travel to different wildlife destinations. He visited Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary with a few friends and acquaintances with similar interests and saw a leopard on the land safari and several birds on the boat safari.
His new interest did not take long to journey into becoming a passion and recalling a friend’s suggestion on one of his personal travel expeditions, he learned more about Toehold and what it had to offer to propel his passion for wildlife photography further. “I have visited Kabini multiple times with Toehold and it’s my favourite place. And I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen big cats on all of my Tours. And I love watching various wild creatures equally. The fact that Kabini is close to Bengaluru, the city I live in, makes it that much more accessible for me,” he asserts.
For Jaisimha, being in the wild is not only about getting way from the din of the city. He explains, “It’s about the pure exhilaration of seeing various forms of life we otherwise don’t get to see where we live. It’s about the sheer joy of seeing wildlife not in a forced but their natural environment. And Toehold has become a big part of my journey because I have learned a lot from the Skippers. They have taught me how even bad photos aren’t mistakes but are only a part of learning better.”
A software architect by profession who manages his own company, Jaisimha is equally passionate about everything he does. When asked about photography, he elucidates, “In the beginning, it was a lot about the joy of sharing and the appreciation coming my way. I joined several Facebook groups and other online forums to share my work. But now, it is about relishing the intimate fulfillment that comes my way while the process of making images itself is happening. And the delight continues to be rekindled every time I revisit the images.”
Jaisimha’s works have received many accolades, including a contest held by Karnataka Wildlife Tourism. His chosen work was displayed in six cities across Karnataka. His work has also been displayed at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre.
Kenya in Africa is the next destination that Jaisimha is excited about exploring. He tells us how big a dream it has always been for him and that it is finally coming true. We wish him the very best for his most-awaited journey and all the other journeys he plans to make in the future.
