A walk through the woods Photo Courtesy: S Prashant
“There’s a story in every frame,” says S Prashanth. The Bengaluru-based photographer is showcasing photographs of animals and birds that he has seen up close in the wild. The show’s title, A Walk Through the Wild: Captured in Time, is a collection of scenes captured over the past 14 years.
Brightly feathered birds caught in mid-flight, big cats in all their regal glory, foliage of different colors complementing feathered and furry alike – Pacifica’s lens has captured them all. More than 30 paintings on canvas are displayed in the show.
The photographer remembers short childhood treks when he would go with his uncles and marvel at the wonders of nature. “We would see deer and various birds and although the feeling of wonder persisted for a long time after each trip, I began to realize that the details of these experiences were beginning to blur. That’s when I started taking photographs in an effort to document each expedition.”
This dedication to visually recording his encounters in the wild began in his teens and by the time Prashant was in his mid-twenties, documenting wildlife had become more than a hobby. “Every time I returned from one of my trips, family and friends were eager to see what I had shot,” says the self-taught photographer and wildlife enthusiast.
S Prashant Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He adds, “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to organize this exhibition – for the benefit of people who haven’t had the chance to experience these beauties firsthand.”
The second reason, says Prashant, was to showcase the state’s natural wealth. Each photograph in the exhibition is accompanied by the name of the reserve or forest area where it was taken.
“Animals around the world are the same. There may be differences in size or color, but the species are the same. I believe nature lovers should explore what is available here rather than go on a desert safari or visit the Masai Mara.”
“I’m not belittling wildlife elsewhere; I just want to say that there’s a lot to see and appreciate in India. We belong to nature and at the end of the day, that’s where we’ll go.”
A walk through the woods Photo Courtesy: S Prashant
“Every picture has a story,” he says, recalling how he stood patiently in the forest for more than two hours, waiting for a leopard to wake up. The result is a stretch, a stare, a moment of feline grace in the woods. In A Gentle Journey, Prashant says that an elephant baby was attacked by a crocodile and was saved by its mother. The image depicts a buried child walking with his mother rather than gambling further.
“In the wild, you have to be able to understand that the nature of animals is much the same as ours. Hunger, thirst, fatigue, playfulness, everything is there. But you have to be patient if you want to capture the perfect moment.”
An engineer by profession, Prashant spends his free time sharing his knowledge with budding photographers and nature lovers. “When I was starting out, information was not freely available or accessible. We read, went to the library, and researched. I would be happy if I could pass what I learned on to someone who might be interested.”
A Walk Through the Wild will be on display at Sublime Galleria, Bengaluru till November 30, 2025.
published – November 13, 2025 02:31 PM IST