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Creatures Great and Small: Portraits of India’s Biodiversity

bySaloni TirodkarPet portraits in Mumbai; Travels across India for wildlife shootsStarts from₹14,500 per sessionView full gallery

From the macaques in Dudhwa to the fruit bats in my Juhu garden, I find magic in the small, often overlooked corners of the wild.

"Why does it have to be Monday?" This Rhesus Macaque's soulful expression in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is something I think we can all relate to. Their human-like expressions make for incredibly compelling portraits.

The face you make when you forget the one thing your mom asked you to get. This young Rhesus Macaque in Dudhwa has such a relatable, worried look.

"Joey doesn't share food!" This Rhesus Macaque in Kishanpur, with a bit of food dribbling from its mouth, perfectly captures that feeling. These moments of humor are everywhere in the wild.

A portrait of a Rhesus Macaque from my trip to Dudhwa. The dark background helps to isolate the subject, highlighting its expressive face and the texture of its fur.

"Blink, and it's Monday again!" An Olive Baboon from Lake Nakuru, Kenya, looking thoroughly unimpressed. This photo from my 2007 archives shows that my love for capturing animal moods started early.

An Indian Rat Snake, or Dhaman, tasting the air with its forked tongue. These non-venomous snakes are incredibly fast and play a vital role in controlling rodent populations.

The many faces of a dragon. This Oriental Garden Lizard, basking in the sun, shows off its beautiful breeding colors.

A close-up portrait of an Oriental Garden Lizard. The incredible detail of its scales and its calm, watchful eye are the focus of this shot.

A male Fan-throated Lizard showing off its colorful dewlap. This stunning display is used to attract mates and defend territory, a truly spectacular sight.

An Olive Ridley Sea Turtle hatchling making its perilous journey to the sea in Dive Agar. It's a powerful moment, representing both the fragility of life and the instinct for survival.

About Creatures Great and Small

You might walk past a garden lizard or a fruit bat without a second glance, but I see stories in them. When I shoot these smaller creatures, I use a macro lens to capture details the eye misses, like the intricate scale patterns on an Oriental Garden Lizard or the gentle care of a mother Indian Flying Fox. It is rarely about the 'perfect' shot, but about the patience to let the animal settle into its true self.

Documenting India's biodiversity since 2007 — Approved by the tribe
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Saloni Tirodkar

Pet portraits in Mumbai; Travels across India for wildlife shootsStarts from ₹14,500 per session

I’m Saloni. I don't just photograph animals, I listen to them. From the monkeys in Dudhwa to the bats in my Juhu garden, I spend hours waiting for a genuine moment, not a staged shot.

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A Paper Kite butterfly rests gently on a leaf in Wayanad. It gets its name from the way it seems to float through the air like a piece of paper. The contrast against the deep green leaves is just beautiful.

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On a nocturnal trail in the Western Ghats, I filmed this Deccan Banded Gecko using its tongue to delicately clean a raindrop from its eye. It's a rare, intimate moment of self-care in the wild.
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A portrait of a rhesus macaque with a thoughtful, almost human-like expression. I aim to capture the personality and emotion in the eyes of every animal I photograph, no matter how common.
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The Flameback Woodpecker, with its brilliant red crown, peeks out from behind a post next to a vibrant flower. This shot was a result of a long, patient wait in a photography hide in the Thattekad forest.

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