Hyderabad: Post covid, she was shooting for the film ‘Ahimsa’ in Panna, where she was put up in a property right outside the core gate of Panna Tiger Reserve and it was curiosity, on seeing many visitors moving around in gypsies, that led film star Sadaa’s entry into the world of wildlife photography.
And, not surprisingly, her passion and the willingness to keep improving each day at her skills have obviously made Sadaa one of the most celebrated wildlife photographers from India today.
“That curiosity made me try a couple of safaris in Panna. I saw a tigress, called P151, along with her two cubs, across the river in my very first drive. And that sighting blew me away. For watching tigers in their natural habitat was my first time!” Sadaa said in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.
“And, soon I happened to visit Bandhavgarh, Kanha & Dudhwa National Parks, taking time off from my film shooting schedules. In Kanha, while many opt for premium zones with more tiger density & movement, I had no choice but to go with whichever was available because of last-minute bookings. To my pleasant surprise, we came back with exclusive sightings of tigers each time and one such sighting was of a male tiger called ‘Yuvraj’,” she explained.
“When I saw that tiger walk head on for one and a half kilometers, without any care in the world, not bothered by our presence, he just kept walking towards us, that was something that changed my life literally because I had not experienced that kind of an emotion seeing a wild big cat, something that we all consider as unapproachable walk towards us,” says Sadaa, who has about 8.5 lakh followers on her Instagram handle.
“For me, nothing can beat that experience and that was the moment I decided I wanted to do this for the rest of my life and then I was literally traveling every single month,” the film star said.
Very soon, I realised, I didn’t want to keep taking pictures or videos on my phone, I decided to get a basic camera, and that’s how it all started,” she recalled.
What is the biggest challenge in wildlife photography for you? “Initially, I only knew about facing cameras, so this was new for me. But again, it’s about understanding your camera well. Once you learn, it’s like driving; you know how to go about it. And then wildlife photography is extremely unpredictable, something that doesn’t give you time, or a second chance, but at the same time it can give you the utmost satisfaction & joy if you get it right in that short time,” she said.
The stunning images from Sadaa well and truly reflect the amazing stability she has holding the camera gear. “I think I just hold my breath when I shoot, literally freeze but it’s a blessing if your co-traveller or the drivers and guides are also kind enough not to move in the gypsy,” she added.
“Mostly, I do videos because I find that to be very, very interesting. To capture a video, then to edit it with appropriate background music that can convey a story is extremely fascinating to me. I also take a lot of images, but somehow, I love doing videos more!” Sadaa said.
“For me, wildlife photography is like breathing. Being in the jungles makes me the happiest, photographing big cats or any subject, for that matter, gives me immense joy. Honestly, I cannot express the feeling in words. I feel I am born for this, and that is why I love to spend my time as much as possible in the jungles,” she said.
“Definitely, from the early days of my photography to now, it has been an immensely satisfying journey for sure. Especially with the kind of love and appreciation I get from my fans and followers, it’s very rewarding! Yes, it’s a learning process. It’s something that will go on forever, but I’m proud of where I’m today!” she said.
On more and more women taking up wildlife photography, Sadaa said, “It’s amazing to see them enter this field, especially since there would not be much that you can do to earn from this field.”
“It’s a passion for me also. I am not here because I’m being paid to do this; I do it because I enjoy it. I like to share stories from the wild with people to make them aware, to make them realise the importance of the existence of jungles & the wild animals, especially tigers, and how it is all about coexistence,” said Sadaa, who is also a Nikon Creator.
On her recent trip to Kenya, Sadaa said spotting the Melanistic Serval cat, which is considered to be an extremely rare sighting, was her most unforgettable experience from that trip.
For Sadaa, there are a lot of tigers that she admires, but the three tigers that have had the biggest impact on her are the legendary Maya and Chota Matka from Tadoba Tiger Reserve & Arrowhead from Ranthambore. They all have their powerful stories that have inspired her!
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