Camera Trap Photography: The Ghosts of the Forest
I combine my background in electrical engineering with field tracking to build custom camera traps. These rigs reveal the secret, nocturnal lives of animals in their most undisturbed state.
The famed pseudo-melanistic tiger of Similipal. This shot required months of planning and custom camera trap engineering to capture a printable, high-resolution image of this incredibly rare cat, a true ghost of the Indian jungle.
A tigress prowling under the "Sita Mandap," a natural stone arc in Bandhavgarh. This camera trap image places the magnificent animal within its legendary landscape, a shot featured in my coffee table book "Bandhavgarh, A Fortress of Tiger."
A sloth bear framed perfectly by a natural cave entrance. I used the weathered rocks as a frame within the frame and set up my lighting to create a spotlight effect, highlighting the bear as it approached the water.
A melanistic leopard, or black panther, on its nightly patrol. My camera traps need to be robust enough to survive the elements and be ignored by the subjects to get natural shots like this.
A leopard walking along the backwaters at sunset. This camera trap setup was designed to capture animals against the beautiful evening sky, blending technical photography with the natural environment.
A sloth bear mother with two cubs riding piggyback, a behavior unique to this species. This is a heartwarming and rare moment captured in the dead of night, thanks to a well-placed camera trap.
A sloth bear foraging under the light of a full moon. Sometimes a single camera trap location yields incredible rewards when the equipment works perfectly and the animals are comfortable in its presence.
A pair of fruit bats captured mid-flight on a busy Bengaluru street. This image shows that wildlife is all around us, and my camera trap techniques can be adapted to reveal the secret lives of urban animals too.
This camera trap image of a tiger in its cave was featured in the "Tiger Tiger Burning Bright" exhibition. It showcases how my engineering skills help create unique wildlife stories.
An unusual top-down perspective of a tiger, captured with a carefully placed camera trap. This shot, also from the "Tiger Tiger Burning Bright" series, offers a different view of this apex predator.
About Camera Trap: Ghosts of the Forest
Setting up a camera trap is rarely about just hitting a button. It involves days of scouting to identify animal paths and pugmarks, then engineering weather-sealed rigs that can withstand forest moisture and the curiosity of passing elephants. When you hire me for a project, you are booking a deployment of high-end, field-tested equipment that requires constant maintenance—battery swaps and sensor adjustments—to ensure we capture those rare, elusive moments after dark.
Engineering for the Wild
My approach to wildlife photography is rooted in solving a problem: how do you capture a creature that never reveals itself to human eyes? Traditional photography relies on being present, but for nocturnal species like sloth bears, leopards, or black panthers, presence is often a barrier. My camera traps serve as a silent, invisible observer.
The Process
Each project begins with a 2-3 day field study. I don't just drop gear; I analyze the topography and animal movement patterns. My rigs utilize custom housings and PIR motion sensors tuned for sensitivity. Lighting is the biggest challenge—I use multiple off-camera flashes to create studio-quality depth in a pitch-black forest environment. It is pure jugaad (improvisation) and technical planning working in tandem.
Why This Matters
Beyond the final image, these setups provide data on behavior that traditional spotting never could. Whether it is a sloth bear mother carrying cubs or a leopard patrolling its backwaters, these captures are crucial for documentation and conservation awareness. If you are an NGO or a publication needing a visual narrative for an endangered species, this methodology provides a rare, objective window into their survival.
Technical Deliverables
I deliver high-resolution images suitable for print or digital, processed to balance ambient light with flash exposure for a cinematic, natural finish. These projects generally require a 7 to 14-day field deployment to guarantee results. You receive first rights to the imagery, ensuring your conservation story is told with exclusive, high-impact visuals.
Yashpal Rathore
I am an electrical engineer who traded circuit boards for forest trails. My custom camera traps are often the only way to document the wildlife that hides when the sun goes down, from black panthers to sloth bears. I do not just take pictures; I build the tools to tell the jungle's hidden stories.
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