The Flamingo Spectacle of Navi Mumbai
Witness the annual migration of 150,000 flamingos in Navi Mumbai's wetlands, captured through a meditative lens.
The lesser flamingos' courtship display is a sight to behold, a synchronized march that reminds me of the Chenda Vadyam percussion of Kerala. This video captures the energy and rhythm of hundreds of males prancing to find a mate at DPS Lake, Navi Mumbai.
Witness the graceful landing of flamingos at DPS Lake. It's a marvel of coordination as thousands of birds descend from the sky, filling the lake with a sea of pink without a single collision.
A flock of Greater Flamingos wades through the waters of the T.S. Chanakya lake. This image was part of a feature in Mid-Day newspaper, helping to raise awareness about these magnificent birds and the importance of their shoreline habitats in Navi Mumbai.
It often looks like a pre-flight briefing. Before taking to the skies, Greater Flamingos gather in groups, seemingly awaiting instructions. This moment captures the social dynamics and organized nature of these incredible birds before a mass take-off.
For a fleeting moment, the light, clouds, and water conspired to create heaven on earth. This group of Greater Flamingos was bathed in a magical glow, a spiritual experience that I was fortunate to capture. The image feels more like a painting than a photograph.
A closer look at the ethereal gathering of Greater Flamingos. The soft light and dark background highlight their delicate forms, creating a scene of pure tranquility and beauty in the Navi Mumbai mangroves.
A beautiful moment of coexistence in the Navi Mumbai wetlands. A lone flamingo walks past a group of Black-bellied Plovers, migratory birds that have traveled thousands of kilometers from the Arctic Tundra to feed here.
This is the "Swayamvar," where male flamingos strut and display their vibrant colors to woo a potential mate. This short film captures the drama and beauty of this natural selection process, set against the backdrop of a brewing storm in Navi Mumbai.
A chance encounter creates a perfect heart shape between two Greater Flamingos. Nature often presents these fleeting symbols of love and connection if we are there to witness them.
A painterly rendition of a flamingo couple forming a heart, captured at DPS Lake. I use artistic edits to enhance the emotion and dreamlike quality of such moments, creating fine art that speaks to the soul.
About The Flamingo Spectacle of Navi Mumbai
Capturing these birds isn't just about the right gear, it is about aligning with the tide tables and the birds' own rhythm. I spend hours in the wetlands, often waiting through dawn or dusk, because that is when the light is soft enough to turn a simple snap into a painterly, fine art frame.
The Navi Mumbai wetlands, including DPS Lake and TS Chanakya, are not just scenic backdrops. They are life-sustaining habitats for thousands of flamingos that migrate here annually. When I photograph them, I am not merely documenting their presence, I am trying to give voice to their struggle against urban encroachment.
My approach leans into therapeutic photography. I use techniques like slow shutter speeds to capture the motion of their wings and the flow of the water, transforming a chaotic feeding ground into a serene, minimalist composition. Whether it is the Swayamvar courtship dance or a lone flamingo preening at twilight, each moment is a lesson in patience and awareness.
I offer more than just prints for your home or office. If you want to learn this process, I conduct field mentorship sessions where we dive deep into the technical side: reading light, understanding bird behavior, and using camera settings like aperture and shutter speed to achieve those specific, ethereal results. These sessions are about learning to see, not just learning to click.
Beyond photography, these images serve a purpose. They are a call to action to protect the mangroves and mudflats that allow these migratory visitors to thrive. Aakhir kya chahte ho? We must ensure this spectacle continues for generations.
Sreekumar Krishnan
I’m Sreekumar. My camera is my voice for the voiceless wetlands of Navi Mumbai. I don't just capture images, I wait, I breathe with the river, and I try to catch the soul of these pink migrants.
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