Exploring cultures and habitats one picture at a time 

“The self is a mystery. The more you understand it, the more you realize how little you know of it. I am in search of that mirage, that self- I am searching for me.” These words define my thirst for photography. I am a professional travel, landscape and wildlife photographer. I have explored and specialised in capturing images at high altitudes of the Himalayas before it became a trend. I have spent most of my time travelling with nomads, and sat with locals in the not so touristy places in the remote regions across India, Central Asia and many other places. I have captured them on my camera and in the process, I have experienced some rare cultures. 

My trips and working environment

As a travel documentary and nature photographer, I travel to remote areas and those are challenging places in terms of weather conditions.

For example, I shoot in remote high lands in trans Himalayas (Ladakh) in the winter season and cover the lives of nomads. I have been working on this project for many years. Here, I work in extreme weather conditions where the temperature tends to drop to negative 30 to 40-degree Celsius.

I have also explored unique high altitude wildlife photography in the high Himalayas to a deserted land. One of my constant companions in all of my expeditions has been my equipment bag. Let me take you through what I keep in my bag during my trips to terrains and places. 

Camera Body:

Alpha A1– (For almost everything) Primary Body: 

This Sony camera is a blessing. 50.1 megapixels at up to 30 frames/second The α1 offers an extraordinary combination of high resolution and blazing speed. Ultra-fast readout from the 50.1-MP sensor allows continuous bursts at up to 30fps with AF and AE tracking using the electronic shutter. Perfect for sports or any situation where the critical action is over in an instant.

Alpha 7R IV– (Landscape and nature work) Body: 

This Sony camera is a blessing. Equipped with the latest technology of active tracking and eye autofocus, this feature of the Alpha 7R IV 35 mm Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera delivers accurate images. Another useful feature is the new improved weather sealing. It works remarkably well in sub-zero temperatures, snowfalls as well as in dusty weather conditions. Moreover, this camera allows me to shoot in the APSC mode to extend the focal length for more reach in wildlife without losing the light and the effective crop size image remains 26M, which is equivalent to most of the available cameras on the market. 

Lenses

There are certain lenses which are known for their all-rounder qualities. These include:

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM OSS: This is my all-around lens and you always find it attached to either of the camera body I use this lens to shoot portraits, environmental portraits, and environmental images which are core part of my travel documentary and of course very useful for landscape images. Wide aperture F2.8 helps me to shoot even in low light conditions.

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS: I keep this lens for events when I cannot go close to my subjects. I often use them to shoot landscapes. This lens also makes excellent portraits and tends to isolate the background/foreground extremely well.

FE 24mm F1.4 GM OSS: For me, this lens serves a special purpose as it often delivers artistic images with a wide-open aperture. It is also an excellent lens to make interview videos. It is an extremely lightweight lens and can be carried easily during treks.

FE 85mm F1.8 G OSS: One of my favourite lenses, its lightweight and easy to carry around. I use this lens mostly with familiar shooting locations and planned shoots.

FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS: This is the perfect lens for wildlife photography. It is so lightweight that I can shoot handheld for long hours without getting tired. I prefer to use this with Sony Alpha 7R IV very often where I can get 600mm F2.8 if I am shooting at APSC crop mode. 

FE 200-600mm F5.5-6.3 G OSS: It is an easy lens setup to carry when I am shooting handheld and am looking for variable focal length. The 200-600mm is convenient. The APSC gives me 300-900mm without losing light or sharpness. 

Sony FE 1.4x and Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverters:  I use these teleconverters occasionally when there is a need for extra reach. A combination of Sony Alpha 7R IV and 2x TC and FE 400mm F2.8 GM works great. 

Accessories:

Sony Tough Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Card: I use this memory card to ensure my photos stay safe no matter what weather I encounter during my trips. They offer fast read/write speed. 

Spare Batteries: I carry extra batteries as I don’t get charging opportunities at many places and ANKER 26,000 MHz power bank: 

Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander: I carry it for my long exposure shots as well as during cold nights when I stay in the tent. This gives me a chance to shoot remotely without worrying about the freezing cold temperature. 

Camera Strap: Made up of peak design, the Sony camera strap helps me manage my camera well when one of the cameras is hanging out on the shoulder. 

Camera Vertical Battery Grip: I carry it since it helps me to easily hold the camera when I change the mode from landscape to portrait. The buttons lend a firm grip. 

L Bracket: These help me to set my camera without much trouble on the tripod head.

Manfrotto Pro Light 220 Camera Bag & Weather Cover: This accessory allows me to keep two camera bodies, 3 lenses and a few other accessories without a fuss in the bag. Interestingly, the camera bag comes with a rain cover.

NiSi Filter System: I carry these filters for my landscape photography. It is a set of ND, GND and CPL.

MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Tripod: I carry them for my travel and landscape trips because it is lightweight. 

RAV Power Solar Panel: I carry it to charge camera batteries. I also carry a RAV Power Solar Panel to charge the power bank and phones. 

Cleaning kit: One of the most important accessories without which I do not travel is my cleaning kit.

256 GB SSD Data Solution: I carry 512GB SSD for the workaround and a 4TB disk for the main backup on the trip.

Laptop: MacBook Pro

Miscellaneous Travel and Camping Essentials: 

Clothing and other preparation: Since I travel to places with extreme weather conditions, I carry enough warm clothes to protect myself. 

Good Pair of Shoes: It is always an excellent idea to keep a good pair of shoes as I walk a lot during my travel.

In my bag, you will also find a Four Seasons tent, a suitable sleeping bag, a camping stove for cooking, a reusable drinking bottle, a portable charging cable, earplugs and a portable mattress. Most importantly, I make sure to carry all the essential medicines.