The eyes that speak

I have always loved animals a lot. When I was small, I would pray to God, asking Him to give me the power to talk to animals. I still sometimes wish I could understand what they are trying to say. If only they could get my words, I would apologize to them for all the stupid things that my race has done to so shamelessly destroy the world that they too have an equal right to.
I think some animals have the most beautiful and expressive eyes. Perhaps, it is the lack of words that make their eyes so eloquent. Their eyes are like windows into their thoughts. Just one look at their eyes, and you’ll know if they are angry, sad, happy, excited, anxious, etc.
I have attempted to capture some of these subtle, yet powerful expressions of animals. Apart from liking them because they showcase animals, I like these shots because it is extremely difficult to shoot animals and it takes a lot of patience and skill, especially when you are travelling and pressed for time.



I captured this image at the Darjeeling Zoo in May last year. Humans’ complete lack of respect for animals and their habitat is on full display at zoos. People litter the zoos, children shout at the animals, tease them, fling objects at them and their parents look so pleased with themselves that their children are ‘enjoying’. It’s disgusting. Even at the time of clicking this photograph, there was a kid standing next to me, who kept screaming, “Come, Tiger, come here. Come! Come!” That it was a leopard and not a tiger, is something the parents did not bother to tell the kid and instead they were busy clicking ‘cute pictures’ of their little tyke. The leopard meanwhile seemed to say. “ I am going to eat you, but not right now. I am too lazy!”




This image was clicked two months back in the Betaab Valley in Kashmir.



This photograph was clicked at the Mirik Lake in Darjeeling. This majestic horse, had a nail stuck in its hoofand was standing still, with the bruised leg raised. I thought his eyes communicated the pain and discomfort very stoically.