Title : CAPTURING WILDLIFE MOMENTS IN INDIA
Language : English
Authors : Ashok Mahindra
Genre : Non-Fiction
Publisher : Oxford University Press(OUP) & Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS)
Edition : 1st
ISBN-13 :
ISBN-10 :
Binding : Hardbound
Price : Rs. 1450/- ( Buy from Flipkart.com )
Pages : 160
The Book Summary : Capturing Wildlife Moments in India" contains 120 photographs of animals and birds of India, photographed from visits to over 30 parks,sanctuaries and other locations. It is being published by Oxford University Press(OUP) & Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS).The book will be available at most of the major retail outlets across India and also through online retail sites like Amazon, Flipkart etc.It will also be available for sale through the BNHS website and is priced at Rs.1450
My Point of View ( P.O.V ) : I'm a thorough bookworm. If you check the 'book' label in my blog, you'll get an idea about my obsession with books. While all the books I've reviewed so far are physical copies, 'Capturing Wildlife Moments in India' however is a book that came to me in a Ebook/PDF format. I'm not averse to digital books, but given a choice I'll always prefer a book I can hold in my hands. That's the best charm about books. Not to worry, this book comes in a physical format too i.e hardbound copy, so one can still relish it once its available in the market :-)
The cover of the book simply mesmerizes you, with the royal Bengal tiger ( @Ranthambore National Park ) in midst of his royal bath perhaps, with the perfect reflection in the waters he's half submerged in. I had visited a national park few months ago and tried my hand in wildlife photography. I must say its a very long and tedious process and one needs to be really patient to get the perfect shot - because, you are just not in command. You cannot order or even cajole the animals to appear or pose with a 'say cheeze' moment. The animals take their own time and have their own moods. They are the kings of the jungles and you are at their mercy, literally. So, to see such a perfect shot clicked, one immediately can only wonder how much time the photographer must've waited patiently, out there in the jungles by the water-body to get it. And its only just the beginning...
Segregated in different chapters, the book takes you on a fascinating journey as it tell you the stories behind each of the pictures ( yes, each photograph has its own intriguing story to tell ); the locations they were shot at and whole lots of other trivia/facts and anecdotes, including technical details of photography ( be it camera settings or shooting techniques ). It also cautions the readers and tries to create awareness of the dangers that exists to these magnificent creatures of the wild - dangers mostly from men itself ( be it via poaching, deforestation or conflicts between both man vs animal ). Wildlife Photography is not just about the big animals ( bengal tigers, asiatic elephants & lions, one-horned rhinos, himalayan black bears, leopards, wild buffaloes etc ), it is also about the other smaller creatures ( langurs, rhesus macaque, mudskippers, malabar gliding frogs, banded gecko, malabar giant squirrel, river dolphins etc ) or even birds ( little Egret, malabar pied hornbill, spotted owlets, white ibis, common kingfisher, the endangered sparrow etc ) that co-exists alongside, as well as the forests environment that includes the flora - be it trees as in rain forests, mangroves, woodlands, wetlands, swampy marshes or mudflats etc, situated across all national parks and sanctuaries in India ( over 30, both famous as well as the lesser-known ones ), in their most colourful and vibrant self that the author has dedicatedly covered.
This book is certainly a delight to go through and has a plethora of information in it; be it about the animals, the myths/legends/rituals surrounding some of them, the places where to spot them and also travel information on how to get there or places to stay ( with discounted options for students ). It tries to generate interest and awareness amongst readers, specially the youth in taking steps for preservation and conservation of the Wildlife and its fragile ecosystem. The author suggests 'thirteen ways forward' for the same. The book is beautifully presented, with high resolution pictures and is a must-have in your book-shelf or coffee-table!
Positives : Highly visual, informative and engaging book. Recommended.
Negatives : None, except the price perhaps, but given the hard work the author has done, its worth it.
Who will enjoy this? - Everyone!
Buy or Don’t Buy? – A Must Buy!
About the Author : By profession Ashok Mahindra is a Chartered Accountant and also a traver and wildlife photographer. He promotes the protection of fragile ecosystem & conservation of wildlife through the Hemchand Mahindra Wildlife Foundation.
Our Rating Scale is : 1 to 5 = ◕◕◕ - I liked it!
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