“It took me three-and-a-half-years to click that one picture,” Raghav Mehta said, proudly standing in a gallery surrounded by the passion of an engineer turned wildlife photographer, with a deep love for birds. It has been nearly a decade since Raghav began his journey in the art of photography. He identifies himself as a birder, and rightfully so. Together with his wife Shruti Mehta – also an engineer by profession, interested in ornithology, the study of birds – they have seen over 700 species of birds from various parts of the world. “Once you start to notice them, you can’t unsee it,” Shruti says.
Short-eared owl | Raghav Mehta
The photograph that has a special place in their heart is a crisp frame of a short-eared owl which Raghav captured during a winter trip to Washington, U.S.A. The couple visited the city every winter in hopes of capturing the perfect shot and they finally got it, after a long three-and-a-half years. The short-eared owl is known for its low flight with broad wings and uses them stealthily while hunting for their prey in open fields, marshes and grasslands. In some cultures, owls are seen as protective spirits and associated with wisdom, largely due to their ability to see in the dark.
Marbled godwit | Raghav Mehta
As I walked through the gallery, a picture caught my eye – a stunning shot of a marbled godwit taken at a beach in San Diego, California. According to Raghav, he noticed that the bird was a little away from the flock. This led him to capture a shadow shot of the bird set against the bright colours of a sunset. Marbled godwits are migratory shorebirds who feed on worms and aquatic insects. Their flights are seen as a symbol of determination and connection to ancestral land.
Swallow | Raghav Mehta
Raghav also spoke about swallows, which in many cultures are seen as a symbol of homecoming and family. Often associated with sailors, swallows help indicate when they are close to land. Shruti added that these birds can be aggressive when they feel their nests are threatened, and because of this, other birds settle and build their nests near them, hoping swallows provide them protection.
Barred owls | Raghav Mehta
Another photograph that stood out was of two adorable parent owls. This pair belonged to barred owls, which he captured in a local park in Washington. He went to the park to capture the photos of three owlets in the area but captured the beautiful moment between their parents instead. They were on a mission to find food for their little ones and took a brief break to embrace one another.
When asked about the challenges he faced getting the perfect lighting for the shots, Raghav replied that if he did not get the shot he wanted, he would simply keep trying. According to him, once the habitat of the bird is understood, it is fairly easy to figure out where they are likely to be.
Through the exhibition, which ran from January 11-19 in Kochi’s Durbar Hall, the couple hopes to reach out and engage in meaningful conversation and celebrate the beauty and diversity of the flying wonder and their connection in folklore.
