Does this picture look familiar ?
It was good enough to win me the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year‘ title it seems. Since most of you do not get Sanctuary Magazine, here’s the information that’s been written inside about the front cover:
“Kalyan Varma is the Sanctuary ABN AMRO Wildlife Photographer of the year 2005.
This is his image of a worker ant Harpegnathos saltator assassinating the de-alated queen”
This brilliant and aesthetically beautiful image reveals a worker jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator murdering the queen. The image was shot in Karnataka’s BRT Wildlife Sanctuary in the Southern Western Ghats. The queen had just torn off her own wings after a successful mating and was scouring the forest floor in search for a suitable nest site. To minimise predation, the queens time their exodus from their natal nests only when they are absolutely ready to mate. Thought this de-alated queen was ‘murdered’ a large number of her sisters successfully established nests, thus completing their life’s mission – passing on the colony’s genes.
This is like the ultimate dream for me to win the best wildlife photography award in this side of the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’ll win this award and that too the actual ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2005’ title. Thank you BR hills 🙂
The press conference happened yesterday (now you know why I’m in mumbai) and the awards ceremony is going to happen tonight. If you are in Mumbai, check the front page and page 8 of today’s Indian Express. There’s a half page interview in it (thanks ashbirder for the info). The online version does not have any pictures and they have badly misquoted me everywhere and I *hate* to be called an “IT professional”. It’s come in other papers too it seems. More later …
UPdate maadi 🙂
Super Cool Saar…. Namma Bengaluruina Hemme !!!!
Congratulations! Amazing job ! I had that pic as my screen saver for a very long time , till my lab tecnician freaked out looking at it :), i told her it is a real pic 🙂
CONGRATULATION.. 🙂
So she was a SHE as I said and there was a killer.. hahaha.. I told you kill the killer didnt I..:) kalyan.. you are an Eye Witness.. 🙂
Wish you more successful shots in future..
Just Great!
Hi Kalyan,
This is really astounding.We cannot believe this! It is just too great! I miss adjective to explain your effort and the art.
Your work is a real incentive for starting a new career.
Mainak Goswami
Mainak_Goswami@infosys.com
wow….thats like awesome!!!
Congrats
Hi Kalyan,
congrats for this! Simply suberb! Shall try to get hold of the Indian Express.
Cheers!
Chiranth
Long Overdue
Kalyan,
Congrats! This award was long overdue. I have always loved your wildlife pictures. Looking fwd to many more.
Photography tips
Came across this link
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/travels/index.jsp
Watch all the links
could be very helpful for others….
-Ganesh