Reminiscences of a Wildlife Photographer PHOTOGRAPHY

Pictorial Photography
In the early years of its existence, the world-renowned Mysore Photographic Society of Bangalore
counted more pictorial photographers than nature enthusiasts in its membership. This was not the
case for long. The reason for the reverse trend—a preference for nature / wildlife photography—was
because the parameters of pictorial photography are ill-defined and very subjective.
In nature photography, the parameters are clear: the subject has to be nature and no manipulation
is permitted. Truthful statement is the most important criteria. In pictorial photography, the subject
can be animate or inanimate; it is its treatment, one’s personal expression and vision that is important.
Of course, nature can be pictorial.
The following pages cover a selection of my work as a pictorialist; a brief interest that was soon
replaced by a lifelong fascination with nature / wildlife photography. I must add that my early attempts
at pictorial photography were at the insistence of the great stalwart in pictorial photography, the late
C. Rajagopal, who was eager that I explore the genre.