In Solio Conservancy, one golden afternoon, a rhino grazed peacefully around us, its sheer presence commanding respect. Slowly, I noticed its curiosity growing—it edged closer, step by step, until it was just meters away. As it got comfortable, I had to switch to a wide-angle lens to capture its massive frame. The sheer size, the powerful build, and that incredible horn left me in awe. Goosebumps ran through me as I framed its calm yet imposing demeanor against a sky painted with scattered clouds. To witness and photograph such a majestic creature up close was a humbling, unforgettable experience.
Power Unleashed: Elephants of Amboseli in full musth, a force of nature not to be challenged
Musth—a condition in male elephants where they experience a surge in testosterone, making them highly aggressive and dominant.
Signs of Musth in Elephants:
1. Increased Testosterone:
• Their testosterone levels can be up to 60 times higher than normal.
• This makes them more aggressive, unpredictable, and dominant over other elephants.
2. Temporal Gland Secretions:
• A thick, dark, and oily fluid called temporin oozes from glands on the sides of their head (between the eyes and ears).
• The smell is very strong and acts as a signal to other elephants.
3. Constant Urination (Dribbling):
• They leak strong-smelling urine continuously, leaving a trail wherever they go.
• This scent warns other males and attracts females.
4. Extreme Aggression:
• They challenge other bulls, even attacking and killing weaker ones.
• They might charge at anything—vehicles, trees, and even humans.
5. Lack of Fear & Increased Energy:
• They eat less but are more active and restless.
• Even dominant males avoid a musth elephant.
|| BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM ||
A Spot billed Pelican caught during water scooping. They use this technique to drink and also to carry water for their babies which saves them from crocodiles in the water.
Weaver ants live a social life, working in groups and helping each other, with each ant having its own role and value. I used to see weaver ants hunting at night near lights. One day, while I was watching in my backyard, there was a light where these ants had gathered, waiting for prey to come close. A stink bug approached the light, and the ants suddenly attacked it, pulling it toward the window. I was surprised to see that the ants\' color and the window\'s color were very similar, blending together. I quickly ran inside, grabbed my camera, and captured this beautiful shot. Afterward, the ants carried the stink bug to their nest to feed their young.
Kandanar Kelan Theyyam is a fiery and powerful ritual performance that tells the tale of a warrior who escaped a burning forest by riding on a tiger. As a symbol of resilience and divine strength, the performer leaps through fire multiple times, embodying the fearless spirit of Kandanar Kelan. Devotees believe witnessing this Theyyam brings protection and blessings.
It was an amazing scene at Kabini , Karnataka India when a full female tigress was chased by a young elephant to capture the water pool for him , the big guy … A total surrender.
The elusive black panther of kabini forest in south India
But it is truly a melanistic leopard, famously called as Saaya, Kariya, blackie in local terms
The Machhapuchhre or Fishtail peak , in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas looks like a perfect triangular peak from Pokhara but in reality it's a 2 peaked spectacle that looks like a tail of a fish as seen in this photo taken from the ultraflight to the Annapurna range .
The Silent Stalker
Suspended in midair, this Hump-nosed Pit Viper showcases the art of perfect camouflage and patience. With its sinuous form, earth-toned scales, and piercing gaze, this venomous snake embodies the raw beauty of the rainforest. Draped over a moss-covered branch, it waits, motionless yet aware, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
A master of ambush predation, this elusive species is a testament to nature’s delicate balance, where every creature plays its part in the intricate web of life. This shot captures not just the reptile, but the essence of the untamed wilderness—where survival is an art and adaptation is key
Stories of the Past: The Keeper of Time and Medicines.
\"Stories of the Past: The Keeper of Time and Medicines.\" A quiet frame capturing a moment inside a small, cluttered pharmacy - a space where nostalgia lingers in every corner. The pharmacist, deep in thought, embodies the timeless charm of old Indian markets, where life moves at its own pace amidst vintage wooden shelves and handwritten ledgers
– Рейтинг фотографов по странам и городам строится на основе 3-х лучших фотографий автора и их относительной позиции в каждой отдельной номинации. Рейтинг в номинации "Мобильная фотография" учитывается в меньшей степени для формирования рейтинга. В списке по странам и городам показывается одна фотография автора с лучшим рейтингом.
– В списке опубликованы только работы которые прошли 2-й этап голосования.
– В рейтинге лучших фотографий учитывается только одна — самая сильная — работа от каждого автора. Даже если у фотографа опубликовано несколько работ, в расчёте позиции используется только одна, с наившим рейтингом. Поэтому порядок фотографий в списке может не совпадать с итоговым положением автора в рейтинге.
– The rating of photographers by countries and cities is based on the three best photos of the author and their relative position in each separate nomination. Rating in the nomination "Mobile Photography" is taken into account to a lesser extent for rating formation. The list by country and city shows one photo of the author with the best rating.
– Only those photos have been published in the list that passed the second stage of voting.
– Only one strongest photo from each author is counted in the Best Photos ranking. Even if a photographer has several published works, only the highest-rated one is used to calculate their ranking position. As a result, the order of photos in the list may not match the author's final ranking position.
