Hi, I am Saurabh Desai!
I grew up observing nature from a very close proximity of my curiosity and consciousness in Surat, a city of Gujarat, India. Wondering into forests and enjoying the visuals offered by nature has been a part of my life since my childhood. Being involved with a local NGO known as ‘Nature Club Surat’, I could participate in various Nature Conservation & Education activities. I found myself lucky to get the opportunities to observe nature from the closest, thus at a very early age developed an empathy and curiosity to the stunning beauty of the wild wonders. It is this that made me pick up a camera and begin my journey as a photographer.
During my initial days I used to capture blunt portraits of animals that actually had little to do with nature and as I progressed I began to see ‘art’ in nature and started exploring beauty in the simplest yet most powerful elements nature offered. As my understanding of nature improved my images went beyond the general identity of wildlife to show poetry and art that lives in viewers heart and soul.
Finding satisfaction in capturing from the most humble to the most dynamic visuals that prevail in nature, my work drew attention and value I attach to them. As the years went by I had enough confidence as an artist that I decided to leave my lucrative career as an engineer and left a well paying comfortable job to pursue full time photography.
The photographs I take depict not only the natural history of wildlife but also the prittiness of diversified nature at distinct perspectives. It reflects millions of thoughts provoked during my journey as a nature photographer. The journey commences from my balcony and continues through deep forests, soundless ranns, endless grasslands, passing through strident coastal lines, colossal wetlands and up to the snow peaks of Himalayas.
The basic instinct of my artwork remains up to involving my viewers into the selfless concern for Nature’s essentials that can enlighten consciousness for conservation moments, because if we love we care.
Accomplishments:
Brand Ambassador of Sony Alpha India
Brand Ambassador of Zeiss Nature India
Brand Ambassador of H&Y Filters Global
Brand Ambassador of Lepfoto Global
Professional Biodata
Three times TEDx Speaker
Former engineer at Larsen & Toubro
Owner and co-founder at 50mm Media Productions
Director at Visual Poetries Photography School
Author and photographer of Visual Poetries, a fine art nature photography book
Faculty of photography at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
Published in
National Geographic
Better Photography magazine
Asian photography magazine
Saveus magazine
Sanctuary asia magazine
WWF
World Photography Magazine
BNHS wildlife books
Biodiversity of Gujarat Wildlife
National Presence at
Nature In Focus (Speaker & Judge)
National Photography Festival (Organising committee & Speaker)
Drashtikon Surat Art Society (President & Co-founder)
Tapi Festival Art Curator
Awards
Young Achiever by South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce
Gujarat Kala Ratna Award
Sanctuary Asia photographer
National Geographic travel photographer of the year
HIPA International award
Exhibitions
Surat
Ahmedabad
Delhi
Pune
Mumbai Bangluru