My Self-Initiated Ecology Study + Dabbling in Video
A precursor to my memoir about the natural world
Hey friends,
Greetings from Bangalore, India!
I’ve been working hard on my upcoming memoir. That simply means that I’ve been editing my work until I can’t physically stare at my laptop anymore.
Also, I finished Cam Houser’s 14-day Camera Confidence Challenge. Cam teaches people how to use videos to promote their work. He has a free 14-day email course which teaches you how to speak clearly and confidently to a camera.
Cam is a good friend of mine. I met him last year in Write of Passage, and we’ve been friends ever since. I filmed a short testimonial for the course, which he put up on the landing page. Click here if you’d like to see it!
In this day and age, being able to speak confidently to a camera is a necessity. Moving forward, I see myself doing a lot of work in front of a camera (Youtube, Video Podcasting etc.), and so I’m glad to have begun this journey!
Here are some links I enjoyed this week:
Join This Man on a Safari to Sculpt Animals in the Wild | Short Film Showcase: Mark Coreth is one of the best wildlife sculptors I’ve come across. In this Nat Geo short film, he travels to Africa to sculpt one of its biggest animals - the African elephant.
Hollywood’s Playbook for Solopreneur Success: This article by my friend
talks about how, while working independently, a “symphony of collaborative independent efforts” can create something of value (whatever that is).A Psychologists Guide To A Meaningful Life - Dr Julie Smith: I LOVE PODCASTS. They teach me about things that I’d never learn about otherwise. In this podcast, Ali Abdaal talks to Dr Julie Smith about psychology and therapy. Give it a listen.
Nature and Wildlife
As I work on my first memoir, I'm publishing another book.
Well, this isn’t an actual book. It's a small guide to the common wildlife found in a remote corner of the Western Ghats of India—a project I've been working on simultaneously for the past few years.
My family cultivates cardamom in the village of Peechad, Munnar, Kerala. It’s a place so remote that you won’t find it on Google Maps. These cardamom plantations are interspersed with rainforest and are in the heart of the Western Ghats—one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
Every month (except when I’m in college), I find myself under those massive trees. And being the wildlife geek I am, I’ve been recording all the fauna I’ve encountered—birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
When I first visited this place, I went online to find a guide to the local wildlife. But to my surprise, there was no one who had worked on this. I couldn't find a resource that catalogued the common animals of the region.
So I set out to create the resource that I wished existed. It's taken a couple of years and many hours in the field, but over time, I studied the place and collected my data.
I designed a small booklet with all the species I’d found, along with some facts about them and a picture for easy identification. It is a culmination of my findings over several hours of exploring these forests and plantations. Here’s a sneak peek:
Just to be clear - this is NOT a comprehensive list of ALL the wildlife found in the region. That is a little above my pay grade. Rather, this is a small list of the common wildlife that one can hope to find on an occasional visit.
The booklet will be available for free on my website for anyone who might find it useful. I’ll also be printing a few copies to distribute in the neighbouring villages.
Arguably, this isn’t a project that can be scaled. It is also useful only to a very, very, very, very niche audience. But it was a project that spoke to my heart. It invigorated me with enough passion to spend all this time on it.
If even one person benefits from this, I'll be satisfied.
I hope someone with more credentials than me will see this work and build upon it. I’ve done the best I could with my knowledge, skill level and time, and I can certainly say that I’ve learned a lot from it.
If you’d like to check out the booklet, click here.
I’m at that stage in my creator journey where many big projects are FINALLY coming together. Just a few months ago, I finished my project - Heroes in a 100 Faces - which comprised 100 portraits (and stories) I had taken across India over five years! I've finished this guide, and hopefully, by the end of this year, I’ll be done with my memoir.
All of this has been a gruelling effort. As I wrap up this chapter in my life, I’m excited to see what’s next.
PS: I’m also studying nilgai antelope (under the guidance of my professor) up in Haryana, next to my university. Excited to see how that goes. Read about it here!
Studying Antelope around Ashoka University
Hey friends, Greetings from Ashoka University, India! That, my friends, is a nilgai. It is an antelope that lives across India (not in the south, extreme north and northeast), found in forests, grasslands, fields and semi-urban spaces. My first nilgai encounter had me struck dumb for 10 minutes straight.
Book Update
My first cycle of feedback ended today. Now I must pour through all the chapters and work on the feedback I’ve gotten. After cleaning that up, I can send the first half of my book to my editor (who is also a dedicated reader of this newsletter😊)
Word Count: 69680
Chapters edited (1 round): 6
Chapters left to edit (1 round): 6
Announcement
I want to shout out some of my friends for all the incredible work they're doing.
My friend
has just published his first book! It's illustrated guide to the vast world of AI and machine learning.If you think you're a newbie to these fields, this book is for you. It's aptly titled - AI for the Rest of Us.
Sairam and another friend,
, are also announcing their cohort-based course - Creative Visuals for Writing. They teach you everything you need to know about creating illustrations, whether that's for your work, writing or just for fun.Their first cohort is running from the 17th of July, so do check them out. I can personally vouch for both Sairam's and John's skills. I hope you guys give their work a look. You won't be disappointed!
Postcard
I found some artwork I had lost 5 years ago! I thought I’d never see this piece again. I’d say it’s a pretty decent piece for a 15-year-old.
Seeing this sketch, I realised that I’ve been sketching wildlife for so many years now. It’s so easy to forget how long you’ve been doing something. I’m glad I could reflect on my art journey and see how far I’ve come…
Favourite Quote
The only way to find your voice is to use it…Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow. - Austin Kleon
Have a creative, energetic 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.
I would greatly appreciate it if you shared my newsletter and work with your friends. It really helps me out :)
So kind of you to spread the word, Ishan. I'm both touched and humbled :) thanks so much my friend!
And these are the days unknown, setting the pace for growth. The eyes of our souls think we can see but what is to be will amaze even me. You will do it! Can’t wait.