His passion for visual imagery enabled him to make a mark, both as a wildlife photographer and a documentary filmmaker.
“I started photogra-phy when I was fifteen years old. My father handed me his trusty old Nikkormat still cam-era – which was at that time, about 25 years old, rustic, had no light meter or battery. His instructions were clear – when it’s cloudy shoot at f/5.6, when it’s sunny shoot at f/8. The shutter speed was fixed some-where at 1/125th of a second. So with those instructions, a camera and a couple of rolls of film, I catapulted headfirst into the addictive world of photography. Photography though came second. My primary interest even today is to be a naturalist and observe the natural world around me. Photography is a tool that helps me document and share the intri-cate world around me”, mentioned Sandesh Kadur, the Bengaluru based wildlife photographer and filmmaker.
Eagle in Flight |
 The High-flyer Club |
However, his initial expectations were restricted to the outskirts of his hometown, Bengaluru. This was the beginning steps of a journey into a full-time career in wildlife photography. A dismal academic performance, resulted in him being sent in to exile in the US to study Hotel Management. This proved to be a strong catalyst in finding solace in the field of wildlife photography. A chance opportunity to make a documentary about the Western Ghats for the Gorgas Science Foundation and The University of Texas at Brownsville in the US launched his career in many ways. In fact, he travelled across the Western Ghats for nearly three years, locating the biodiverse hot spots. At the time, technological advancements had made it possible to use still camera lenses on video cameras. There was a bit of a merger in the two fields. He was lucky to have started at the beginning of this merger and hasn’t looked back ever since.
 Helping Hand |
 Pond Heron on the Rocks |
“In reflection, I don’t think that there is any single path to follow to become a wildlife photographer. It boils down to following the 3 P’s. First and foremost it is about passion, secondly, its the perseverance and lastly, having the patience to get there. It’s been a long journey, but one that’s been worth all the hardships.”
In fact, Sandesh’s films have been shown on television networks, including National Geographic, BBC, Discovery and Animal Planet.
 Macaque with Baby |
 On the Prowl |
Currently based in India, Sandesh is documenting the Eastern Himalaya, (the endangered ecosystem in critical need of conservation). He has several other laurels to his name. Sandesh is a member on the board of the International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers, an associate member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and the director of Felis Creations , a visual-arts company based in India. Visit www.sandeshkadur.com to see his work
Mathew Thottungal
 Ridley Turtle Nesting |
