Wildlife photo show by renowned Karnatik vocalist this weekend

A classical musician from the city will hold his first exhibition of wildlife photographs he has taken over a period of 35 years. The show titled ‘Nature’s Splendour & Wonder’ will be held this weekend.

It will feature 65 images, shot by R S Ramakanth. He is a fourth-generation Karnatik vocalist, and son of renowned Karnatik vocalist R K Srikantan.

Ramakanth has visited several national parks. The show will exhibit some photographs from these trips — predators with their kills, mammals and their offspring, insects mating, and more.

Ramakanth believes “action is the key for a striking picture”. The exhibition will feature a tiger with its kill at Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, a leopard with a deer at Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, and a polar bear with its cubs in Churchill, Canada.

Also on view will be photographs of elephants at Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, the Indian fox at Cholapur, Maharashtra, and the Malabar giant squirrel from the Western Ghats. Macro photographs of insects like spiders and beetles, and birds like the bee-eater and paradise fly catcher are also part of the show.

Ramakanth has waited for hours and sometimes days “for the perfect shot”. He says his musical journey blessed him “with an aesthetic sense, which is also important for photography”.

The 77-year-old’s love for nature inspired him to develop the hobby. “I got my first camera, a Canon AE-1 Program in 1985, as a gift from my father,” says the Seshadripuram resident. Soon after, he joined the Youth Photographic Society, where he was inspired by great photographers like C Rajagopal and E Hanumantha Rao.

Through his show, he wants to create awareness about the importance of caring for and protecting wildlife.

‘Nature’s Splendour & Wonder’, on December 7, 11 am to 7.30 pm and December 8, 10 am to 7.30 pm, Devaraj Urs Gallery, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, Kumarakrupa Road.