Award-winning wildlife photographer · Thrissur, Kerala
Wildlife photography is more than a passion. It's my way of connecting with nature and sharing the incredible beauty of the wild. Every image represents patience, observation, and respect for the animals and their natural environment.
Based in Kerala, India, I explore forests, wetlands, and grasslands across the country in search of authentic wildlife moments. While I enjoy photographing a wide variety of wildlife, I have a special passion for birds, particularly at the Kole Wetlands, where changing light and rich birdlife create endless opportunities for creative photography.
One of my favorite styles is backlit photography, where early morning or evening light transforms ordinary scenes into something extraordinary. Whether it's a bee-eater glowing against the rising sun, a tiger walking through monsoon rain, or a leopard emerging from the shadows, I strive to create images that tell a story while remaining true to nature.
In the field, the animal comes first. I keep my distance from nests and dens, I don't bait or call wildlife in, and I would rather lose a frame than push an animal to move. Patience usually gives you the better photograph anyway.
If you'd like to shoot alongside me, I run hands-on photography workshops at the Kole Wetlands and Ponnani, and safari trips to Kabini.
Habitat matters to me as much as the animals in it. Much of my work comes from wetlands, coasts and forest edges that people share with wildlife, and that are changing quickly. My Shared Ground collection is about exactly that: jackals among fishing boats, flamingos in a working salt pan, an elephant under the power lines.
My photographs have been finalists in Wildlife Photographer of the Year three years running (2023, 2024 and 2025). One won a Consolation Prize at the Kerala State Wildlife Photography Award 2026, another was a Smithsonian Magazine Photo of the Day in 2024, and 35AWARDS named me one of its Top 35 wildlife photographers worldwide in 2022. The full record is on the awards and press page.
Away from the field I work as a mobile app developer, and you may also know me as Anandhu M. But whenever I step into the wilderness, my focus shifts entirely to observing wildlife and capturing genuine moments that inspire appreciation for the natural world.
I believe the best wildlife photographs are not just beautiful, they tell stories that inspire people to value and protect nature.