Conservation Storytelling & Visual Advocacy
Available across India
I create photo stories that show how people and wildlife share space in cities, using long-term fieldwork and local collaborations to help conservation.
Pricing Guide
3-Day Visual Documentation & Storytelling Commission
Core Field Work
- Duration: 3 Full days of on-site photography by WPY winner Nayan Khanolkar.
- Gear Usage: Deployment of prime telephoto lenses (400mm/600mm) for wildlife and wide-angle macro setups.
- Aerial Context: Drone photography to capture habitat scale and perspective (subject to local permissions).
Deliverables & Post-Processing
- Visual Assets: 6 to 10 'Hero' images plus 30 supporting images creating a cohesive visual story.
- Editing: Editorial-grade color correction suitable for large-format print or annual reports.
- Narrative: Scientifically accurate captions and a 300 to 500 word text narrative explaining the conservation context.
Logistics
- Travel: Includes travel within metro city limits (e.g., Mumbai/Pune region).
- Scouting: Initial location assessment to determine the best narrative arc.
Cinematic Camera-Trap Deployment (One Week)
Technical Rigging
- Equipment: High-end DSLR camera encased in weather-proof housing paired with passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors.
- Lighting Design: Installation of 2 to 3 off-camera flashes to create studio-quality lighting in a wild setting.
- Strategy: Identification of animal corridors based on pugmarks and scat to optimize placement.
Monitoring & Output
- Duration: Equipment remains deployed on-site for 5 to 7 days.
- Maintenance: Includes one mid-week check for battery replacement, card retrieval, and angle adjustments.
- Files: Delivery of all viable high-resolution triggers (RAW + Processed). Note: Fee covers technical expertise and deployment effort.
Private Naturalist Trail & Mentorship Session
The Experience
- Expert Guiding: 1-on-1 session with Nayan Khanolkar focused on reading jungle signs, alarm calls, and tracking.
- Coexistence Context: Visit to local tribal hamlets (where appropriate) to observe human-animal coexistence models.
- Mentorship: On-field advice regarding ethical wildlife photography, composition, and utilizing natural light.
Session Details
- Capacity: Valid for a private group of up to 4 guests.
- Permits: Includes entry and vehicle permits for restricted forest zones (e.g., CEC or SGNP).
- Hospitality: Simple high-tea and snacks provided during the trail.
About Conservation Storytelling & Visual Advocacy
Why I Do What I Do
Living in Mumbai, I've seen how leopards and people share space, and it's changed how I think about the wild. The wild isn’t just deep forest - it’s right here, cha mulukh madhe (in our city). My photos aim to make folks see that animals aren’t intruders but neighbours. I want people to feel something, maybe rethink how we treat the creatures around us.
My Style of Conservation Storytelling
I’m not just snapping animal pics. I build visual stories that make you pause. Whether for magazines, wildlife advocacy campaigns, or exhibitions, I use images to talk about stuff that matters - like flamingos fighting to keep their home or tigers needing safe passage. I want my work to actually help conservation, not just look pretty.
How I Work: Real Stories, Real Patience
- I spend years following animals, like Luna the leopard, so you get the whole story, not just a cool shot.
- I use camera traps and drones to catch what we’d never see otherwise. Most of my favourite moments happen at night, away from crowds.
- I team up with scientists, forest officers, and locals like the Warli community. Their knowledge brings my stories to life.
Projects That Matter
- Urban wildlife photo essays: Leopards living in Mumbai, flamingos in Navi Mumbai wetlands.
- Visual stories for ecosystem protection: Tigers in Central India, the fight for corridor conservation.
- Community-driven conservation narratives: How local tribes coexist with predators, what we can learn from them.
What I Want My Photos To Do
If people start respecting these animals, even a little more, that’s a win for me. Conservation isn’t about saving “them” - it’s about making sure we all have a place, together.
Meet your Expert
Nayan Khanolkar
79 connects in last 3 months
My Story
So, I’m Nayan. Never had any formal training in photography - just picked up my camera and went out. Biology teacher by day, wildlife stalker by night, you could say. Fifteen years chasing Indian wildlife, but leopards in Mumbai? That’s where my heart landed. Saw Luna in Aarey, and she changed everything. Imagine, a big cat sharing city space with us! That’s the story I want to show: the wild isn’t far, it’s right here, sneaking through our city nights.
My Work
Wildlife Photography & Conservation Stories - I take up wildlife photography assignments, create conservation photo stories and offer talks, all grounded in real field experience.
Urban Big Cats Focus - Most of my work is about documenting Mumbai leopards, showing their lives right at the city’s edge. Urban leopard photography is my thing.
Ethical, Patient Approach - Camera traps, lots of waiting, and careful watching. I never disturb the animals - I let their stories unfold naturally.
Storytelling Through Images - I don’t just click photos. I build wildlife coexistence stories that make you see animals and humans together, differently.
