Meet Madan Reddy, the only second Indian shutterbug to have captured Blyth's paradise flycatcher bird

Madan Reddy is a techie by profession but a wildlife photographer by passion. Such is his obsession for animals that Madan can wait for hours to capture special moments of wildlife as his heart lies in the forest.

If you've visited the educational center and forest guest houses of Amarabad you could have seen his amazingly-clicked pictures on the walls. You might be crossing paths with Madan If you're planning to visit Amarabad tiger reserve as he is camping there to capture beautiful moments.

Madan is a software consultant at Deloitte. For the last 10 years, his passion for wildlife has grown multifold. He is happily married to Nandini and has a 4-year-old boy child.

Q) Would you like to make a career out of wildlife photography or as a Techie if given a choice?

A: If I was given a choice, I would go with wildlife photography undoubtedly but to pursue a wildlife career in India is tougher as it would take a long time to get to a recognizable stage and to settle at it. So, for livelihood, this software job is helping me in a great way, and I am thankful to my company for making supporting me.

Q) How are you able to strike the balance between work and passion considering time constraints?

A: Initially, I used to spend two days a week pursuing my passion for photography. Since the pandemic, things have changed as we were asked to work from home, it got easier as I started exploring wildlife like I am camping at Nallamalla region now and my day starts at 5 am as I try to capture wildlife till 10:30 am and return to my camp as office work starts from 11 am. So, I am having enough time to manage both.

Q) Why did you take up this wildlife photography seriously even after being so busy in your profession and what sparked this interest in wildlife photography?

A: I always liked wildlife photography. As a child, I always used to be glued to Animal Planet, NatGeo, etc. but never imagined that I would take it this seriously. First, I was keen on settling down with my family and when I got there, I found that space to try on this hobby. I came to realize my passion when I was traveling to Srisailam along with my family 7 years ago.

As it was my destiny to be a wildlife photographer, I came across a bird on my journey which attracted my interest and forced me to stop the car and take a picture with the ordinary camera I had then. That moment gave me the realization of my true passion and the happiness it brings into my life, immediately after returning, I bought a professional camera which changed my life. Now, if I don't use my camera for a week, I feel like missing my family. This is how it all started.

Q) What is the most important thing to possess as a photographer and your most favorite capture?

A) Most importantly, having an interest in wildlife and having patience, anticipating the behavior of a bird or animal to capture the best possible moment is the key. I have to say every capture of mine is equally special and very few of them are being shared on social media as I am saving my best work for later but If I must pick one, it has to be Lesser Florican. It is critically endangered as there are about only 200 of these in the entire world. Also, Great Indian Bustard, Black Buck, and Tiger are among my other favorites. I am more focused on capturing unique special and rarest moments of wildlife that can't be seen on regular basis. I would love to wait hours to get the best shot. I am the only photographer from Telangana and the second one from India excluding the northeast region, who have captured Blyth's paradise flycatcher bird.

Q) How did this pandemic affect you and how different is it working post-pandemic?

A) Honestly speaking, Pandemic gave me extra time to sort out and reshuffle my existing wildlife gallery. I also got time to think and spend with family and post lockdown, due to lesser crowds more wildlife species started entering landscapes which resulted in scope to capture more than usual.

Q) What is the role of your family in your progress?

A) Without the support of my family and especially my wife Nandini, I would do nothing. She has been my biggest strength and supported me in every decision I took. So, she deserves all the credit, and I am ever thankful to her for understanding me.

Q) What do you suggest people whether to follow their passion irrespectively or to be realistic and work for financial stability?

A) It is fancier for me to state to follow your passion and keep going but honestly, responsibilities and family should be the priority. So first, try settling in a career that makes you financially adequate and start taking your passion as a hobby and see where it takes over time. If your passion has scope for good livelihood, you should go ahead and follow your heart. It is very important for your passion to compliment the profession.

Q) Where do you want to see yourself 5 years down the lane?

A: I would be happy if my name could be recognized by every wildlife enthusiast in our country. No feeling can be greater than this.

Q) Did your capturing style change from the time you started capturing to the present day?

A: When I just began, my intention was to just click different wildlife creatures whereas now, I just want to take my time, wait and capture the best moment I can so that the output has soul and can tell stories.

Q) What do you advise younger people who could be looking up to you in the future?

A: If you can turn your hobby into a career, it can't get better than this but think and decide wisely. Take up responsibilities and build a meaningful career and don't get too disappointed if circumstances won't allow you to follow your passion initially and always hope that the best is yet to come.

Madan wants to thank a few officials who are helping him to shoot at the Nallamalla region. He would like to thank Rohit, the IFS officer, and other officers at Nallamalla. He also would like to thank the officers at NSTR (Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve) and IFS officer Vignesh for their support and letting him as long as he wants and to trust him means a lot to him.

Madan is open and looking forward to conducting workshops in wildlife photography and he is also willing to teach people and share his knowledge who are interested in wildlife photography.

For more photos, check out his Instagram page here