I've waited 6 years for this shot

The power of visualizing...

Hey friends,

Greetings from Valparai, Tamil Nadu!

I’ve finally got a photograph that I visualised six years ago. 

Let me explain. 

In 2018, I heard of this quaint little town in Tamil Nadu called Valparai. There, people said, you could see elephants and gaurs grazing out in the tea estates, hornbills swarming in the canopies, snakes slithering out of every bush. 

What they described was a paradise. 

But the best resident of Valparai is the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque (LTMs). Less than 5,000 of these primates live on this planet. I mean, I know of college campuses with more students than that. Let that sink in. 

Since then, the years went by, and the thought of visiting this town took a backseat. But on my recent trip to Idukki, Kerala (a regular plantation visit), I decided to make the 5-hour drive and visit this famed land. 

Long story short, I had an absolute blast in Valparai, and I highly recommend this offbeat town to any wildlife enthusiasts in the area. But this post is about a photograph I envisioned when I first heard about this town. 

This is a Lion-tailed Macaque. This is NOT the shot I’m talking about. I’ve included it so you can see what this monkey looks like. The shot I describe in this post is below. 

When I learned that LTMs could be easily sighted here, I began imagining the potential shots I could get. After all, the LTM is one of the most regal animals I’ve heard of, and I use that word deliberately. Its mane and black-and-white colour scheme makes it one of the most unique creatures in India and maybe across the world. 

Everyone who knows me knows that I think every animal is gorgeous. But I genuinely think this monkey is one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen. 

I specifically thought of a shot taken from below the animal that captures the monkey walking towards me, staring directly at the lens. It had to be below the creature's line of vision because I wanted the animal to look majestic. (Pro-tip: If you want to photograph wildlife, try to get down to its line of vision, or even lower if possible. It elevates the creature in the frame.) The lighting conditions had to be perfect so that I could capture the monkey's piercing gaze. 

Anyone following my photography knows I am a big fan of black-and-white, fine art photography. There is something ethereal and immersive about this style that other kinds of photography don’t capture. The high contrast stares you in the face. 

The photographer David Yarrow (who I’ve written about here) exemplifies this style, and he remains one of my primary inspirations. With the LTM, I wanted to channel my inner David Yarrow and capture a BNW, timeless shot of this enigmatic monkey. 

The image had to be pin sharp, with each hair in clear focus. Only then would it have a high intensity that captures and holds the viewer's attention. For this, I had to be close. 

In short, I wanted an image that slaps the viewer in the face. 

My dad and I drove around Valparai, searching for this monkey. But they proved to be quite hard to find. It took us quite a while (with the advice of many locals) to finally locate a troop that was comfortable with my presence. 

I lost track of the hours I spent in Valparai looking for this shot. But at last, I was with one female monkey and her baby when she got up and walked towards me. I held my breath and stared through the viewfinder as my dream frame came together. 

If I look back at my photography journey, there are perhaps only 20 images that I am genuinely proud of, which truly capture how I see the world. As I pressed the trigger, I knew this photograph would join that group. 

To me, this shot is proof of perseverance. It proves that going after your goals is worth it. 

Here it is:

Here’s the colour version. Tell me which one you prefer.

Postcard

At Valparai, I also photographed many people. Here’s a tea picker from the vast tea estates of this town.

The people of this state are beautiful. I need to explore Tamil Nadu more!

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“A friend is someone with whom I may be sincere.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a creative, wild and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.

Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.

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