as a young boy I had a dream a dream that was so far-fetched as probably
that was so far-fetched as probably
that was so far-fetched as probably being an astronaut and that dream was to
being an astronaut and that dream was to
being an astronaut and that dream was to be a photographer to be a filmmaker
be a photographer to be a filmmaker
be a photographer to be a filmmaker because I was drawn by the visual image
because I was drawn by the visual image
because I was drawn by the visual image I mean magazines by National Geographic
I mean magazines by National Geographic
I mean magazines by National Geographic I mean who hasn’t been influenced by
I mean who hasn’t been influenced by
I mean who hasn’t been influenced by them and when I saw those old issues of
them and when I saw those old issues of
them and when I saw those old issues of National Geographic I mean I just was
National Geographic I mean I just was
National Geographic I mean I just was drawn to those pictures of animals and I
drawn to those pictures of animals and I
drawn to those pictures of animals and I just wanted to be one of those people
just wanted to be one of those people
just wanted to be one of those people that went out there and take pictures
that went out there and take pictures
that went out there and take pictures but you know of course growing up in
but you know of course growing up in
but you know of course growing up in India I had no idea where to begin and
India I had no idea where to begin and
India I had no idea where to begin and the title of a filmmaker and
the title of a filmmaker and
the title of a filmmaker and photographer was was really far-fetched
photographer was was really far-fetched
photographer was was really far-fetched but like I said in the end whether
but like I said in the end whether
but like I said in the end whether you’re doing filmmaking or photography
you’re doing filmmaking or photography
you’re doing filmmaking or photography it’s about telling a story and I decided
it’s about telling a story and I decided
it’s about telling a story and I decided today that I wasn’t going to bombard you
today that I wasn’t going to bombard you
today that I wasn’t going to bombard you with any more beautiful pictures because
with any more beautiful pictures because
with any more beautiful pictures because around every corner in National
around every corner in National
around every corner in National Geographic you’re seeing amazing images
Geographic you’re seeing amazing images
Geographic you’re seeing amazing images so why bombard you with more of them but
so why bombard you with more of them but
so why bombard you with more of them but then that was a problem I couldn’t get
then that was a problem I couldn’t get
then that was a problem I couldn’t get past this slide
but I realized that I’m not the only one
but I realized that I’m not the only one handicapped through this problem
handicapped through this problem
handicapped through this problem recently I was photographing a tribe on
recently I was photographing a tribe on
recently I was photographing a tribe on the border of Burma the Naga tribe and
the border of Burma the Naga tribe and
the border of Burma the Naga tribe and these are you know they were known as
these are you know they were known as
these are you know they were known as headhunters and they live in a pretty
headhunters and they live in a pretty
headhunters and they live in a pretty remote part of India and very few people
remote part of India and very few people
remote part of India and very few people have been to these places and I realized
have been to these places and I realized
have been to these places and I realized that they too couldn’t tell a story
that they too couldn’t tell a story
that they too couldn’t tell a story without images and here you see in the
without images and here you see in the
without images and here you see in the background is a huge panel of wood
background is a huge panel of wood
background is a huge panel of wood probably the size of the screen and on
probably the size of the screen and on
probably the size of the screen and on that are carved these incredible images
that are carved these incredible images
that are carved these incredible images of a Pangolin in the center an elephant
of a Pangolin in the center an elephant
of a Pangolin in the center an elephant on the side what looks like a wild dog a
on the side what looks like a wild dog a
on the side what looks like a wild dog a Gibbon a skull and the story of
Gibbon a skull and the story of
Gibbon a skull and the story of humankind
humankind
humankind of course people back then didn’t have
of course people back then didn’t have
of course people back then didn’t have fancy cameras so they used carvings to
fancy cameras so they used carvings to
fancy cameras so they used carvings to depict stories to tell their stories
depict stories to tell their stories
depict stories to tell their stories because that’s how you can capture
because that’s how you can capture
because that’s how you can capture imagination and that’s how you can
imagination and that’s how you can
imagination and that’s how you can fascinate people and that’s how they can
fascinate people and that’s how they can
fascinate people and that’s how they can tell the stories to their children as
tell the stories to their children as
tell the stories to their children as they sit in what’s called the more on
they sit in what’s called the more on
they sit in what’s called the more on the dorm where they tell stories are
the dorm where they tell stories are
the dorm where they tell stories are around the campfire hundreds of miles
around the campfire hundreds of miles
around the campfire hundreds of miles away up in the Himalaya the Buddhist
away up in the Himalaya the Buddhist
away up in the Himalaya the Buddhist monks drew beautiful paintings on the
monks drew beautiful paintings on the
monks drew beautiful paintings on the walls of these monasteries to fascinate
walls of these monasteries to fascinate
walls of these monasteries to fascinate you to capture the audience to capture
you to capture the audience to capture
you to capture the audience to capture the imagination of course a raptor
the imagination of course a raptor
the imagination of course a raptor carrying a snake away not very different
carrying a snake away not very different
carrying a snake away not very different from what I attempt to do today with my
from what I attempt to do today with my
from what I attempt to do today with my photography of course my pictures aren’t
photography of course my pictures aren’t
photography of course my pictures aren’t as beautiful as what you just saw
as beautiful as what you just saw
as beautiful as what you just saw earlier but I can’t paint and
earlier but I can’t paint and
earlier but I can’t paint and photography is is in many ways more
photography is is in many ways more
photography is is in many ways more challenging and and in many ways it
challenging and and in many ways it
challenging and and in many ways it conveys that same message of what the
conveys that same message of what the
conveys that same message of what the paintings trying to do so seeing all of
paintings trying to do so seeing all of
paintings trying to do so seeing all of this I realized that even a hundred
this I realized that even a hundred
this I realized that even a hundred years ago people were using the tool of
years ago people were using the tool of
years ago people were using the tool of paintings of art sculpture to document
paintings of art sculpture to document
paintings of art sculpture to document biodiversity and to tell the story of
biodiversity and to tell the story of
biodiversity and to tell the story of life around them through images because
life around them through images because
life around them through images because at the end of the day what we’ve all got
at the end of the day what we’ve all got
at the end of the day what we’ve all got to realize is that these images
to realize is that these images
to realize is that these images transcend boundaries of lang
transcend boundaries of lang
transcend boundaries of lang which culture and all these things that
which culture and all these things that
which culture and all these things that are difficult to get your message across
are difficult to get your message across
are difficult to get your message across and images just go across all those
and images just go across all those
and images just go across all those boundaries because what we are at the
boundaries because what we are at the
boundaries because what we are at the end of the day we are very visual
end of the day we are very visual
end of the day we are very visual animals we’re primates
animals we’re primates
animals we’re primates and to that end we’re very visual we use
and to that end we’re very visual we use
and to that end we’re very visual we use our eyes to see things it’s probably one
our eyes to see things it’s probably one
our eyes to see things it’s probably one of our most acutely developed sense that
of our most acutely developed sense that
of our most acutely developed sense that of sight and I was influenced like I
of sight and I was influenced like I
of sight and I was influenced like I said by magazines like National
said by magazines like National
said by magazines like National Geographic and if you can imagine the
Geographic and if you can imagine the
Geographic and if you can imagine the power of one image having such an impact
power of one image having such an impact
power of one image having such an impact can you imagine the power of a moving
can you imagine the power of a moving
can you imagine the power of a moving image and when my father brought back
image and when my father brought back
image and when my father brought back documentaries like trials of life by Sir
documentaries like trials of life by Sir
documentaries like trials of life by Sir David Attenborough I was just I mean I
David Attenborough I was just I mean I
David Attenborough I was just I mean I used to replay those tapes over and over
used to replay those tapes over and over
used to replay those tapes over and over again until they were worn out because
again until they were worn out because
again until they were worn out because that was a world I had never seen before
that was a world I had never seen before
that was a world I had never seen before and what I was seeing on screen just
and what I was seeing on screen just
and what I was seeing on screen just absorbed me fully and my father seeing
absorbed me fully and my father seeing
absorbed me fully and my father seeing my interest in in all of this and him
my interest in in all of this and him
my interest in in all of this and him being an amateur photographer himself
being an amateur photographer himself
being an amateur photographer himself decided to give me his 25 year old my
decided to give me his 25 year old my
decided to give me his 25 year old my Cormac stills camera while I was about
Cormac stills camera while I was about
Cormac stills camera while I was about 14 years old camera was far more
14 years old camera was far more
14 years old camera was far more experienced with of course with no light
experienced with of course with no light
experienced with of course with no light meter no autofocus of course wasn’t
meter no autofocus of course wasn’t
meter no autofocus of course wasn’t digital and we used to use these things
digital and we used to use these things
digital and we used to use these things called film back then if some of you
called film back then if some of you
called film back then if some of you remember and what happened was that my
remember and what happened was that my
remember and what happened was that my world was transformed I had suddenly
world was transformed I had suddenly
world was transformed I had suddenly found a tool a little magic box where I
found a tool a little magic box where I
found a tool a little magic box where I could go out there photograph things
could go out there photograph things
could go out there photograph things around me and take them home and that
around me and take them home and that
around me and take them home and that was what how photography started it
was what how photography started it
was what how photography started it started as a documentation tool because
started as a documentation tool because
started as a documentation tool because I could take these pictures and then try
I could take these pictures and then try
I could take these pictures and then try to get them identified but the
to get them identified but the
to get them identified but the consequence of that was that my
consequence of that was that my
consequence of that was that my academics took a nosedive so my father
academics took a nosedive so my father
academics took a nosedive so my father very quickly confiscated the camera from
very quickly confiscated the camera from
very quickly confiscated the camera from me and sent me across the oceans
to a place called Brownsville Texas
to a place called Brownsville Texas shows up on the weather map when the
shows up on the weather map when the
shows up on the weather map when the Hurricanes come up in the Gulf of Mexico
Hurricanes come up in the Gulf of Mexico
Hurricanes come up in the Gulf of Mexico to go study Hotel Management
like any good Indian oh if it wasn’t
like any good Indian oh if it wasn’t hotel management they would have
hotel management they would have
hotel management they would have probably sent me to study to be an
probably sent me to study to be an
probably sent me to study to be an engineer or a doctor but the best part
engineer or a doctor but the best part
engineer or a doctor but the best part about it was that it allowed me the
about it was that it allowed me the
about it was that it allowed me the freedom to be away from the family but I
freedom to be away from the family but I
freedom to be away from the family but I had to work three jobs to earn my first
had to work three jobs to earn my first
had to work three jobs to earn my first camera so I became a staff photographer
camera so I became a staff photographer
camera so I became a staff photographer at the college newspaper so that brought
at the college newspaper so that brought
at the college newspaper so that brought in a little bit of journalism into my
in a little bit of journalism into my
in a little bit of journalism into my photography I started working as a lab
photography I started working as a lab
photography I started working as a lab assistant and also as a receptionist at
assistant and also as a receptionist at
assistant and also as a receptionist at the local wildlife sanctuary on weekends
the local wildlife sanctuary on weekends
the local wildlife sanctuary on weekends and I earned the first camera and I set
and I earned the first camera and I set
and I earned the first camera and I set off to explore Mexico in the cloud
off to explore Mexico in the cloud
off to explore Mexico in the cloud forest and that was one of the most most
forest and that was one of the most most
forest and that was one of the most most incredible experiences where I met this
incredible experiences where I met this
incredible experiences where I met this person
person
person John Beck’s a Belgian filmmaker who used
John Beck’s a Belgian filmmaker who used
John Beck’s a Belgian filmmaker who used he made documentaries for discovery in
he made documentaries for discovery in
he made documentaries for discovery in Animal Planet and he was fantastic with
Animal Planet and he was fantastic with
Animal Planet and he was fantastic with capturing birds that was his specialty
capturing birds that was his specialty
capturing birds that was his specialty and I convinced him that we have a
and I convinced him that we have a
and I convinced him that we have a forest in India the Western Ghats a
forest in India the Western Ghats a
forest in India the Western Ghats a mountain range similar to this cloud
mountain range similar to this cloud
mountain range similar to this cloud forest which has an even more incredible
forest which has an even more incredible
forest which has an even more incredible amount of biodiversity and why not he
amount of biodiversity and why not he
amount of biodiversity and why not he come to India and and and and I be his
come to India and and and and I be his
come to India and and and and I be his apprentice and he said yes and being an
apprentice and he said yes and being an
apprentice and he said yes and being an apprentice was the best thing that could
apprentice was the best thing that could
apprentice was the best thing that could have happened to me at that point
have happened to me at that point
have happened to me at that point because I didn’t want to be in college
because I didn’t want to be in college
because I didn’t want to be in college anymore so we decided we planned this
anymore so we decided we planned this
anymore so we decided we planned this whole expedition and I was going to be
whole expedition and I was going to be
whole expedition and I was going to be the one carrying his tripod and taking
the one carrying his tripod and taking
the one carrying his tripod and taking him to all of my special places in the
him to all of my special places in the
him to all of my special places in the mountains and a week before the trip
mountains and a week before the trip
mountains and a week before the trip John calls me up and he says son dish I
John calls me up and he says son dish I
John calls me up and he says son dish I don’t think I can make this trip my why
don’t think I can make this trip my why
don’t think I can make this trip my why what happened I think I’m too old to go
what happened I think I’m too old to go
what happened I think I’m too old to go to India I was his wife Alice telling
to India I was his wife Alice telling
to India I was his wife Alice telling him that so I was shattered that was the
him that so I was shattered that was the
him that so I was shattered that was the end of my dream but my director called
end of my dream but my director called
end of my dream but my director called me to his office and he said son I used
me to his office and he said son I used
me to his office and he said son I used to want to make this documentary and I
to want to make this documentary and I
to want to make this documentary and I said yes and he invested a huge amount
said yes and he invested a huge amount
said yes and he invested a huge amount of money about ten thousand dollars and
of money about ten thousand dollars and
of money about ten thousand dollars and bought me my first video camera I had
bought me my first video camera I had
bought me my first video camera I had never known head or tail which way to
never known head or tail which way to
never known head or tail which way to use but I went back to India the
use but I went back to India the
use but I went back to India the instruction manual of the camera was my
instruction manual of the camera was my
instruction manual of the camera was my reading material for the flight back and
reading material for the flight back and
reading material for the flight back and I did this documentary it was a supposed
I did this documentary it was a supposed
I did this documentary it was a supposed to be a three-month summer college film
to be a three-month summer college film
to be a three-month summer college film project but much to my parents dismay I
project but much to my parents dismay I
project but much to my parents dismay I dropped out of college
dropped out of college
dropped out of college and it turned into a three-year affair
and it turned into a three-year affair
and it turned into a three-year affair because I couldn’t watch the first three
because I couldn’t watch the first three
because I couldn’t watch the first three months of my footage and we made a
months of my footage and we made a
months of my footage and we made a documentary called Sahyadri
documentary called Sahyadri
documentary called Sahyadri mountains of the monsoon luckily the
mountains of the monsoon luckily the
mountains of the monsoon luckily the documentary garnered a few awards and
documentary garnered a few awards and
documentary garnered a few awards and then later on a person who saw the film
then later on a person who saw the film
then later on a person who saw the film said that while we need to now convert
said that while we need to now convert
said that while we need to now convert this into a book and then we went about
this into a book and then we went about
this into a book and then we went about and we created a book a coffee-table
and we created a book a coffee-table
and we created a book a coffee-table book about the Western Ghats and put in
book about the Western Ghats and put in
book about the Western Ghats and put in a lot of science there have been a lot
a lot of science there have been a lot
a lot of science there have been a lot of research that had been done in this
of research that had been done in this
of research that had been done in this mountain range we combined science we
mountain range we combined science we
mountain range we combined science we combined art and we put this together in
combined art and we put this together in
combined art and we put this together in a beautiful book which is popular as
a beautiful book which is popular as
a beautiful book which is popular as well as scientific for policy makers and
well as scientific for policy makers and
well as scientific for policy makers and decision makers to think about the
decision makers to think about the
decision makers to think about the Western Ghats and in the end what
Western Ghats and in the end what
Western Ghats and in the end what happened was that most recently the book
happened was that most recently the book
happened was that most recently the book in the documentary were used to declare
in the documentary were used to declare
in the documentary were used to declare the Western gods as a unesco world
the Western gods as a unesco world
the Western gods as a unesco world heritage site so that was the most
heritage site so that was the most
heritage site so that was the most incredible thing and I was very
incredible thing and I was very
incredible thing and I was very encouraged by what happened because you
encouraged by what happened because you
encouraged by what happened because you were able to combine all these different
were able to combine all these different
were able to combine all these different elements and bring about something that
elements and bring about something that
elements and bring about something that could make a difference and encouraged
could make a difference and encouraged
could make a difference and encouraged by that most recently we went into the
by that most recently we went into the
by that most recently we went into the Himalaya and completed another book
Himalaya and completed another book
Himalaya and completed another book project mountains of life but it’s not
project mountains of life but it’s not
project mountains of life but it’s not easy going out there and taking pictures
easy going out there and taking pictures
easy going out there and taking pictures and I thought I’d put together a short
and I thought I’d put together a short
and I thought I’d put together a short clip of what it feels like to actually
clip of what it feels like to actually
clip of what it feels like to actually be out there to go out take these
be out there to go out take these
be out there to go out take these pictures and to bring it to all of you
pictures and to bring it to all of you
pictures and to bring it to all of you so here’s a short clip from that scene
so here’s a short clip from that scene
so here’s a short clip from that scene you where the tiger left off bronze ring
you where the tiger left off bronze ring
you where the tiger left off bronze ring jacanas go about their daily business a
jacanas go about their daily business a
jacanas go about their daily business a pied kingfisher feeds on little fish I
pied kingfisher feeds on little fish I
pied kingfisher feeds on little fish I sit and wait
six days sitting in the hide and all
six days sitting in the hide and all I’ve had is one brief glimpse of the
I’ve had is one brief glimpse of the
I’ve had is one brief glimpse of the tiger reviewing the footage I see that
tiger reviewing the footage I see that
tiger reviewing the footage I see that he’s not very happy with the camera
he’s not very happy with the camera
he’s not very happy with the camera traps being there he snarls at one of
traps being there he snarls at one of
traps being there he snarls at one of them before disappearing I decide it’s
them before disappearing I decide it’s
them before disappearing I decide it’s time to remove all the camera traps
being being a wildlife filmmaker
being being a wildlife filmmaker photographer it’s a very very boring and
photographer it’s a very very boring and
photographer it’s a very very boring and frustrating job
frustrating job
frustrating job it’s not easy sitting there for hours on
it’s not easy sitting there for hours on
it’s not easy sitting there for hours on end trying to get an image and even
end trying to get an image and even
end trying to get an image and even after six days of sitting there I wasn’t
after six days of sitting there I wasn’t
after six days of sitting there I wasn’t quite able to get the image I wanted
quite able to get the image I wanted
quite able to get the image I wanted although I got a beautiful sequence of
although I got a beautiful sequence of
although I got a beautiful sequence of the whole thing and my camera trap
the whole thing and my camera trap
the whole thing and my camera trap technology captured this image of new
technology captured this image of new
technology captured this image of new animal behavior Tiger feeding on a rhino
animal behavior Tiger feeding on a rhino
animal behavior Tiger feeding on a rhino carcass for example and one thing I need
carcass for example and one thing I need
carcass for example and one thing I need to mention is that the advent of digital
to mention is that the advent of digital
to mention is that the advent of digital technology has allowed us to explore
technology has allowed us to explore
technology has allowed us to explore push the boundaries and tell stories in
push the boundaries and tell stories in
push the boundaries and tell stories in different ways earlier to this you had
different ways earlier to this you had
different ways earlier to this you had to have a video camera and a still
to have a video camera and a still
to have a video camera and a still camera but now you can do both with one
camera but now you can do both with one
camera but now you can do both with one contraption and thats the beauty of
contraption and thats the beauty of
contraption and thats the beauty of being able to harness all of this new
being able to harness all of this new
being able to harness all of this new technology to tell your stories and I
technology to tell your stories and I
technology to tell your stories and I like to not just documenting new
like to not just documenting new
like to not just documenting new behavior it’s new technology I also like
behavior it’s new technology I also like
behavior it’s new technology I also like to go after new species most recently we
to go after new species most recently we
to go after new species most recently we did an expedition to a remote part of
did an expedition to a remote part of
did an expedition to a remote part of northeastern India where we found this
northeastern India where we found this
northeastern India where we found this little guy
little guy
little guy a lizard without a name and new species
a lizard without a name and new species
a lizard without a name and new species of course new species in that region are
of course new species in that region are
of course new species in that region are not very new there’s been over 353 new
not very new there’s been over 353 new
not very new there’s been over 353 new species over the last decade discovered
species over the last decade discovered
species over the last decade discovered and described already in that part of
and described already in that part of
and described already in that part of India so I love going to places where
India so I love going to places where
India so I love going to places where you know that there are more new species
you know that there are more new species
you know that there are more new species to be found to document them and put
to be found to document them and put
to be found to document them and put them together in a way that connects the
them together in a way that connects the
them together in a way that connects the outside world
outside world
outside world to the natural world and just brings
to the natural world and just brings
to the natural world and just brings these two things together and it’s like
these two things together and it’s like
these two things together and it’s like I said earlier it’s not just about
I said earlier it’s not just about
I said earlier it’s not just about taking great pretty pictures but it’s
taking great pretty pictures but it’s
taking great pretty pictures but it’s also about spending the time packaging
also about spending the time packaging
also about spending the time packaging it all combining the story of the
it all combining the story of the
it all combining the story of the natural world
natural world
natural world with the cultural world and putting it
with the cultural world and putting it
with the cultural world and putting it together in a way that connects you with
together in a way that connects you with
together in a way that connects you with people and that’s what I do as a
people and that’s what I do as a
people and that’s what I do as a wildlife filmmaker and photographer and
wildlife filmmaker and photographer and
wildlife filmmaker and photographer and a long time ago
a long time ago
a long time ago while watching television another factor
while watching television another factor
while watching television another factor that had a great influence in my life I
that had a great influence in my life I
that had a great influence in my life I I read a quote a quote that many of you
I read a quote a quote that many of you
I read a quote a quote that many of you here may have heard that in the end we
here may have heard that in the end we
here may have heard that in the end we will conserve only what we love we love
will conserve only what we love we love
will conserve only what we love we love only what we understand and we
only what we understand and we
only what we understand and we understand only what we are taught and
understand only what we are taught and
understand only what we are taught and to that end we put together an app also
to that end we put together an app also
to that end we put together an app also because now I realize television isn’t
because now I realize television isn’t
because now I realize television isn’t doing what it used to so we need to be
doing what it used to so we need to be
doing what it used to so we need to be innovative in our storytelling to get
innovative in our storytelling to get
innovative in our storytelling to get that message out to a larger audience
that message out to a larger audience
that message out to a larger audience and with this what we’ve been able to do
and with this what we’ve been able to do
and with this what we’ve been able to do is combine different elements of
is combine different elements of
is combine different elements of filmmaking photography and tell a story
filmmaking photography and tell a story
filmmaking photography and tell a story and as storytellers we need to keep
and as storytellers we need to keep
and as storytellers we need to keep exploring these boundaries and harness
exploring these boundaries and harness
exploring these boundaries and harness modern technology and tell stories in
modern technology and tell stories in
modern technology and tell stories in different ways thank you
”
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