Kolkata-based wildlife photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee talks about ethics while shooting in the wild 

Renowned photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee will talk about his ethics and experiences as a wildlife photographer through a digital presentation
Birds captured by Dhritiman
Birds captured by Dhritiman

Kolkata-based wildlife photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee will be in conversation on conservation, besides displaying some of his best wildlife frames at The Williamson Magor Hall in the Bengal Chamber. One of the most respected and spontaneous nature photographers in India today, the event on July 3 will highlight Dhritiman's work and ethics in wildlife photography. 

<em>Iceland through the lens of Dhritiman Mukherjee</em>
Iceland through the lens of Dhritiman Mukherjee

"Predators will not harm you if you respect their habitat and are embedded in it. If an elephant chases you it's because he thinks you are an intruder," explains the young photographer, who has been primarily working on rare endangered and challenging subjects all over the globe and has travelled and photographed most of the national parks and biozones in the country. "I have trekked the Himalayas close to 15 years before I could click the brown bear But the best part of my job is not getting international awards, it's contribution to science, research and conservation that's my pull. While shooting a rare or elusive animal I am helping in its documentation and opening new scopes for future studies," feels Dhritiman who has won several international awards including The Carl Zeiss Conservation Award and the RBS Earth Hero Award. 

<em>The juvenile Arctic fox in Iceland </em>
The juvenile Arctic fox in Iceland 

The event organised by wildlife conservation NGO SHER will see a digital presentation of his work and the stories and experiences behind them. "Since Dhritiman is an iconic photographer people across the globe follow his work to draw inspiration and learn the skills. Many photographers, amateur and professional, will get a chance to know the ethics which he abides by while shooting the wild animals," says Joydip Kundu a wildlife conservasionist and an actor, who is also the general secretary of SHER. By ethical photography, Joydip means following certain basic rules that avert clashes with the animals or their habitats and causes minimal disturbances to both. "There are actually many photographers who can go to any extent to get the most prized wild frame of his life, most of the time at the cost of the animal, rendering damages that are irreversible," mentions Joydip. 

<em>Sea animals captured by Dhritiman</em>
Sea animals captured by Dhritiman

He also adds that there have been several instances when photographers have even ruined nests of birds after clicking them so that others cannot have the same picture. "Compassion and respect towards the subject is a must for a wildlife photographer, he feels. "There have been incidents of throwing dead fish to allure predatory birds like kingfisher or tampering and destroying camouflaged canopy under which birds make their nests," adds Joydip. The event that's open to all will see renowned wildlife behaviourist  Professor Silanjan Bhattacharya and filmmaker Arindam Sil in conversation with Dhritiman.

All pictures by Dhritiman Mukherjee and RoundGlass Sustain

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