A date with African wilderness

Experience the untamed side of Africa, up close and personal, at Varun Pitre's exhibition of wilderness photography

Atelier is showcasing Varun Pitre's first exhibition of photographs in the city. Pitre is a third year Mechanical Engineering student from MIT and was a reluctant photographer till an award he won in ninth grade made him seriously pursue this hobby. On display are snapshots taken by Pitre during a wildlife safari at Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Tell us about your journey so far.
I was never too keen on photography. Though, I used to randomly click pictures of birds, plants and landscapes, it was not even one of my hobbies. I discovered my passion for photography during ninth grade when I won first prize for the picture of a gecko. Now, I focus on capturing the intricacies of nature in all my pictures.

What are the challenges of wildlife photography?
I visited the Masai Mara reserve when it was swarming with animals returning from their migration at the Serengeti Reserve in Tanzania. Capturing their movements on camera proved to be very tough. It is spontaneous and you don't even have time to put on artificial lights or use tripods.

How would you sum up your experience?
It was an amazing learning experience. The scenic wildlife of the Sweetwaters, Lake Nakuru and the breathtaking Masai Mara inspired me and I got a chance to notice the animals more closely in theiru00a0 original habitat. You have to be careful to not miss out on any action, keep on clicking pictures and also be fairly lucky. However, I have realized that elephants and wild buffaloes don't like you getting too close to them.

Tell us about your future plans.
I want to experiment with all kinds of photography. I still have a long way to go as I am not professionally trained and need to work doubly hard on everything.

Till: u00a0August 12
At:u00a0Atelier, A Decor Boutique, 6, Mithila Residency, Baner Road.
Call: u00a065000001