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Wildlife photography beyond the birds

bySumit Kumar SumAvailable online; Shoots across IndiaStarts from6,500 per framed printView full gallery

While birds are my first love, the wild is full of other stories. From reptiles and mammals to the giants of the forest, here are the creatures I have encountered while out in the field.

While looking for rare birds, this juvenile Bengal Monitor Lizard caught my eye, basking in the sun on a cold winter morning. A beautiful reptile.

A herd of deer, framed through the leaves, creates a dreamy, atmospheric scene. This is what wildlife looks like: serene and perfectly in its element.

A magnificent Barasingha (Swamp Deer) with its antlers in velvet, standing in the lush greenery of a wetland.

A Greater One-horned Rhinoceros resting in the tall grasses, a peaceful giant and a true success story of Indian conservation.

A short video compilation showing the diversity of life, from a garden lizard to a bee-eater catching a dragonfly. Nature is always soothing.

A Jungle Cat looks back over its shoulder. These cats are incredibly adaptable, but they face increasing threats from habitat loss.

About Beyond the Birds

Wildlife photography, especially when stepping outside of birding, is entirely about stillness. Whether I am tracking a jungle cat or waiting for a monitor lizard to emerge, I follow the same rules: I do not bait or stage the shot. I simply wait until the animal feels comfortable enough to carry on with its life while I am in the frame.

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