Capturing Wild Moments & Star-Lit Skies
A look at my world behind the lens. Whether it is chasing monsoon storms or hiking with my dogs, I am here to document the stories we live to tell.
This is the raw power of a Mumbai monsoon. I captured this electrifying cityscape by stacking over 90 individual photographs to show the full spectacle of the lightning storm. It takes patience, but moments like this are what I live for.
Capturing these star trails over the forests of Chopta meant spending a night in the freezing cold, but it was completely worth it. This is a long exposure photograph, a composite of many shots, that shows the Earth's rotation against the backdrop of the night sky.
The golden light of sunset hit just right as this Sambar deer paused by a stream. Wildlife photography is about being present and ready for these quiet, magical encounters in nature.
A family portrait, our style. Here we are on a beautiful day in Chopta, taking a break during a hike with our German Shepherd, Jiraiya. The snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the background made for an epic memory.
During a road trip through South Africa, we came across this pair of Cape Mountain Zebras. Seeing them in their natural, rugged habitat was a highlight and a reminder of how incredible our planet’s wildlife is.
This is what my documentary travel photography is all about. The video shows our hike to the incredible Yana Caves in Karnataka, navigating the forest trails with our dogs, Jiraiya and Jeannie, right there with us.
Here I am in my element, set up on a rock in the dense forests of Uttarakhand with my telephoto lens. My dog Jiraiya is right there with me, my constant companion on these photography expeditions.
About Featured
You might see a single shot of lightning or a perfect star trail, but the reality is hours of waiting and stacking dozens of exposures. I do not just point and shoot, especially when we are hiking with dogs or deep in a forest. It is about the patience to get the light right and the hustle to be in the middle of nowhere when the conditions align.
Photography for me is the thrill of the chase. If you look at my star trail or monsoon lightning shots, you are seeing the result of hours of patience and technical stacking. I often spend freezing nights in places like Chopta or wait out storms in the Western Ghats to get the right frame. It is not just about the gear; it is about knowing the landscape and respecting the elements.
Then there is the other side of my work, which is all about the joy of the journey. Whether I am documenting a hike with my dogs, Jiraiya and Jeannie, or capturing wildlife in their natural habitat, I focus on the connection. I avoid staged studio setups. Instead, I follow my subjects, letting the story unfold naturally. My gear is Nikon, but my real tool is the time I spend scouting locations and waiting for that one moment where the light hits just right.
If you are planning an expedition, a pet-friendly hike, or a trip where you want the documentation to be as real as the experience itself, I am your guy. I travel across India for projects, and I am always looking for the next place where the roads end and the stories begin.
Sunny Nair
I am Sunny, and I live for the kind of photography that happens when you are miles away from a road. My camera, my partner, and our two dogs are the constant team behind these captures, whether we are chasing stars in Chopta or monsoon lightning in Mumbai.
Looking for a specific kind of adventure?
Let me know where you are heading or what you want to capture.
More from Travel & Landscape Photography by Sunny Nair