Field Notes
The Asian elephant is the presence I feel most strongly in an Indian forest, even when I cannot see it. A snapped branch, fresh signs on the trail, a low rumble carrying through the trees — the forest announces an elephant long before it appears.
I have photographed them in the forests around Kabini in the south and in Corbett in the north, usually in herds moving unhurriedly through the landscape and led by an older female. They are gentle in appearance and immense in reality, and I have learned to give them a wide berth — a respectful distance is as much for their peace as for my safety.
An elephant herd does not perform for the camera. It simply lives, and the best I can do is record a few honest moments from its day.
