My Tiger Pic
During my earlier association with an MNC I had to travel a lot within the country to promote protection chemicals and document their application and record their efficacy.
On one such visit to Andhra Pradesh in April 1988, I visited the company’s branch office at Hyderabad, a city that prided itself in having an open air zoo (Nehru Zoological Park - spread over several hundred acres). It’s been my practice to visit the local zoo of whichever city I visited and spend time watching the animals.
On this visit to Hyderabad I took time off to visit the zoo – I usually carry my camera during my travels – when I came to the Tiger Enclosure I spotted this lone youthful specimen pacing back & forth near a tree stump at the edge of a small pool.
I took my camera and began tracking it in my viewfinder with the hope that the animal would stop at least for a fraction of a minute for me to capture it.
I was taken by surprise when another Tiger appeared as if from nowhere and began sparring with the first one.
Excitement ran shivers through me as here was a great opportunity to capture two fine specimens in one frame!!! And I didn’t want to botch it.
Was it telepathy at work between me and the Tigers? In a split second they literally “POSED” – the best ever – A Portrait of a Lifetime with a semblance of the elite, grandeur & regal in appearance!
Click …Whirrrrr… Click… Whirrrrr went my motor drive – 5 frames – at the end of which they “just got up & walked away” as if to say OK buddy the show is over!
I simply stood frozen for a few seconds – unable to comprehend the ‘virtual miracle’ that took place in front me – was it real or was it my imagination?
It was around 4pm and I rushed to the nearest studio and gave the transparency roll for developing although there were 28 frames still left un-exposed – I just couldn’t wait to see the result.
The next morning I went to the studio and waited for the shutters to open and when it did the studio owner had a big smile on his face while handing over the envelope and added “Kya kamaal ki tasveer keetcha Aapne”!!!
With hands shivering I opened the envelope - what I saw rendered me speechless for several moments.
Back in Mumbai I showed the picture to my friend Bittu Shegal the well known conservationist and publisher of Sanctuary Magazine who was kind enough to print it as the centre-spread in the next issue of Sanctuary.
For those who’re keen to know the technicalities:
1.Camera: OLYMPUS OM1 with Motor Drive
2.Lens used: Olympus 300mm telephoto
3.Film: Kodak Ektachrome 200ASA Transparency
4.Aperture: f5.6
5.Shutter speed: 250 / sec
NOTE:
It’s been 24 years since it happened! Time has taken its toll and the colours in the transparency have faded to a stage of mystic softness – giving the picture the look & feel of a ‘Painting’.
I just wanted to share those moments of excitement and ecstasy with you guys!!!!
Briha
