What is it about Artisocats, Jungle Book, Stuart Little, The Bee Movie and countless others, that makes them timelessly appealing? Apart from being “cute and cuddly” to quote Skipper of Madagascar fame, it is the human-ness of their characters that makes them unforgettable.
Well, it is not just artistic licence — real animals out in the wild, exhibit human characteristics too, says Bengaluru-based naturalist and wildlife photographer Sanket Reddy. Sanket recently launched his first book titled, The Viewfinder, a gorgeous, coffee table tome that showcases all the species that have strayed into the scope of his lens.
According to Sanket, most coffee table books in India on the subject of wildlife, revolve around tigers, elephants and bigger species. “There are so many animals that don’t get enough attention and I was trying to put together a book that would encapsulate what I’ve learnt from my travels around the world,” says Sanket, adding that most books tend to get too technical either about the species, geographic location or the science of photography.
Now, with The Viewfinder, Sanket certainly managed to land the Goldilocks zone. Sectioned into chapters such as ‘A Drop of Joy’, ‘The Might of Love,’ The Breath of Freedom’ and more, they delve into the characteristics and personalities each animal or bird has exhibited in the wild.
Life lessons
Sanket says the purpose of The Viewfinder was to forge a connect between people and Nature. Since he had photographed all manner of wildlife, his biggest challenge was finding a thread to bring them all together in a book. “I felt one way to get people to connect with Nature, would be by sharing my learnings in the wild. And that is how it materialised — we arranged the images in nine categories.”
Sanket Reddy
“What better way than putting people in scenarios where they have often been stuck?” he asks. “Whenever I go into the wild and spend time observing animals, I try to understand why they do certain things, and connect it to human behaviour as well.”
“That was the reason I tried a different approach to this book so even children would be able to connect with it and see it from a simple perspective.’
For instance, Sanket briefly describes an encounter where three King Penguins engage in a standoff, with neither willing to back down. Eventually, they resolve their differences with playful slaps and good natured jostling. “Incidents like this make you think of the connection between mankind and the animal kingdom; it also tells you that differences can sometimes be resolved in a playful manner.”
“Being in the wild has always helped me come back with a different perspective to any problem or issue that I may have been facing.” He shares how the row beetle is a tiny termite-sized insect commonly found in South India. “I learnt these species are introduced in different parts of the world to control pests. However, once their job is done, they don’t stay back and start feeding off the plant; without being told, they move away from there.”
The Viewfinder | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“It made me realise that one is appreciated as long as you are able to add value. And that it is always better to leave before you are asked to, and not overstay your welcome.”
Bees and trees
Sanket says his attraction to Nature, began as a child, fuelled to a large extent by family holidays that would “eventually end in a forest.” However, his path to the present was charted somewhere in the beginning of 2007, when, ”I felt a need to document some of the marvellous phenomena I witnessed in the wild.”
Photos from The Viewfinder | Photo Credit: Sanket Reddy
“Besides, many a time when I got back, experts would debunk my accounts, and the only way I could prove it was if I had photographic proof. That is when I picked up a camera, but by no means did I think I would still be invested in it, so many years later.”
Has he ever seen a species step back from the brink of extinction?
“The lion-tailed macaque had almost disappeared, but thanks to the efforts of organisations such as the Nature Conservation Foundation and individuals in the Annamalai region, who educated people there that these creatures too, were a part of the ecosystem and deserved their space. Thankfully, their numbers have not dwindled further.”
Sanket says small birds, such as the great Indian bustard, linger around the border of extinction, but due to constant efforts, they are still around. Sadly, he has seen species vanish too. “Today’s photographers find it hard to believe when I say hyenas once used to roam the forests of Mudumalai in South India.”
In the crosshairs
Each image in The Viewfinder is accompanied by a few lines written in a simple concise manner describing the species. At the end of the passage is a couplet, often humorous, that leaves you with something to ponder.
Photos from The Viewfinder | Photo Credit: Sanket Reddy
But perhaps what sets this book apart from others on wildlife are the icons at the end of each page that denote the name and location where the flora or fauna was spotted as well as the date the photograph was clicked, Sanket has also shared details of the camera, lens and aperture used, in the same icon format, making it easy for any reader to decipher.
“Everything I know about photography is self-learned. Back in the day, there was no course one could take and even data online was quite limited. Finding the optimum settings was always a challenge for me and fellow photographers, who started around the same time,” says Sanket, remembering how they would pore over images, wondering about its lighting or clarity.
“That inclusion was always a part of my plan from the moment I decided on the book. I wanted anyone who picked it up, even someone remotely interested in photography, to understand and be able to differentiate between the camera settings.”
The process of putting The Viewfinder together took a couple of years and went through a couple of iterations, but the final version was completed in about six months, says Sanket, adding that he is well into his next work, a story of coexistence.
The fall of plumage, patterns on scales, the lace of insect wings, landscapes and terrain — all in a brilliant riot of colour, will make you fall in love with Nature all over again.
The Viewfinder by Sanket Reddy is available in bookstores and at fireantstudios.in.
Photos from The Viewfinder | Photo Credit: Sanket Reddy
Published - April 14, 2025 10:51 am IST
