| Winning
Photos |
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| Winner of a contest held by "National
Wildlife Fedetation", USA
- in 2005. |
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| My
Awards and Achievements |
I won many awards and certificates
of merits in various all India and International Photography
competitions / exhibitions.
My Awards
Won gold medal in Taipei international photography competition
in Taiwan in the year 1999.
Two of my pictures reached final round in "BG WildLife
Photographer of the Year" competition 2005. (Organized
by BBC)
Winner of National Wildlife Magazine, USA photo contest
in the year 2005. More...
Highly honoured winner of Natures Best photography awards
competition, USA in the year 2005.
Adjudged "Photographer of the year" by photographic
Society of India in the year 2000.
Won first prize in " Sanctuary ABN wildlife photographer
of the year" photography competition in the year
2001 and second prize in the year 2004.
My Achievements
More than 500 pictures exhibited in all India and International
photography competitions / exhibitions.
Honoured by Thane Municipal Corporation as "Thane
Gunijan" in the year 2000 for achievement in photography.
Held solo photography exhibition on wildlife during the
wildlife week in October 2000 at Bombay Natural History
Society and a group show in Tangent Art Gallery in October
2003.
"The Incredible moment" group show at Mauraya
Sheraton, New Delhi organised by People for Animals in
August 2005.
Done a photographic survey of Kudremukh National Park
and adjoining mining areas in December 2000.
Visited in East African National Parks : * Masai Mara
* Amboselli * Lake Nakuru and *Tsavo in Africa
Visited many Sanctuaries and National Parks in India :
*Kaziranga and Manas in Assam
*Kanha and Bandavgarh in M.P.
*Keoladev, Ranthambore, Sariska, Taal Chapper and Desert
National Park in Rajasthan. *Gir, litte Rann of Kutch,
Velavadar, Jamnagar and Nalsarovan in Gujarat.
*Bandipur, Nagarhole, Ranganthitoo, Topslip, Parambikulam,
Mudumalai, Eravikulam and Periyar in Southern India
*Valley of Flowers, Auli, Corbett in Uttaranchal
*Sunderbans, Buxa and Jaldapara in West Bengal
*Nubra Valley, Chushul Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Kar, Tsomoriri
in Ladakh region
*Dachigam National Park in J&K
My Contribution for
Sanctuary Magazine Oct. 2005
EYE to EYE
| With the Animal World Photographs by Hira PunjabiThey
say that eyes are the windows to the soul. Whether
that be true or not, there is something positively
haunting in the gaze of wild nature. As the photographer
lets his own vision - his own inner eye - mould
his work, he brings us up close to the heart of
his subject. Whether it be a startled panda or an
alert pelican, a look at the eyes establishes a
connection between animals and man, providing a
glimpse into a life beyond captured stillness. |
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Eyes evolved to solve one of two principal objectives
- to hunt for food, or escape being eaten by a hunter.
Prey species often have eyes on either side of the head
with each eye having its own, often overlapping, field
of vision. And, in combination with a range of other senses,
this acuity acts as a life-saving early warning system.
In the case of nocturnal predators, pupils turn into vertical
slits during the day and widen in the dark, enabling them
to see at night.
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1. Jackal Canis lupus:
Like most predatory hunters, jackals have binocular
vision. Their eyes are positioned in front of their
heads. Powerful eye muscles help them focus rapidly
and pupils will contract or dilate in a flash in
response to light availability. The reflective membrane,
tapetum, inside their eyes help magnify light by
causing it to be reflected back towards the retina.
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| 2. Tiger Panthera tigris: A tiger's
bulging eyes give it a wide angle view. Its circular
pupils are exquisitely adapted to night vision.
Nocturnal animals can dilate their pupils wider
than humans can, thus maximising the amount of light
that can enter the eye. Light sensitive rods allow
them to see at night, but do not provide the high
resolution and colour vision that cones offer. |
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3. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus
philippensis: Birds' eyes have a unique, thin folded
tissue called pectin. This extends from the retina
to the lens and supplies nutrients and oxygen to
the eye helping to lessen the number of blood vessels
in the retina. With fewer blood vessels to scatter
the light coming in, birds' eyes tend to offer them
sharper vision. Birds' eyes are unusually large
and occupy a significant portion of the skull. Large
eyes allow maximum amount of light to penetrate
and create a larger image as well. |
4. Golden langur Trachypithecus geei:
Primates such as the golden langur need to judge
distances as they swing through trees. Their forward-facing
eyes allow them the depth perception vital to make
life or death judgements.
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Most vertebrates have two types of light-sensitive cells
in their eyes. Cone cells sense colour when there is light
and rod cells detect light in black and white. So, when
visibility is poor, colour vision must be sacrificed.
Only the higher apes (that includes us) have eyes that
can see all the rainbow colours. Most species see colours
as shades of grey. Ants, honeybees and butterflies, of
course, can also see ultraviolet light. Scientists have
proven that turtles and some fish enjoy excellent colour
vision.
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5. Malabar pit viper Trimeresurus
malabaricus: Pit vipers use both sight and heat-sensors
to locate their prey. The pits lie on either side
of the face between the nostril and eye. Thermal
and visual data are sent to the brain via the optic
nerve, which helps a single image to be formed. |
6. Sarus Crane Grus antigone: Birds
rely on vision for accurate flight navigation. As
they fly or take off, they use sight to orient themselves.
Evolution has gifted them the ability to view prey
at close range and discern distant objects when
flying at high speeds and at heights.
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7. Marsh crocodile Crocodylus palustris:
Their eyes are located close together on top of
their head. This allows the field of vision of the
two eyes to intersect and provide accurate depth
perception in front. Hippos and frogs have evolved
similarly positioned eyes. This is a result of convergent
evolution, which helps solve a common problem -
how to keep the entire body underwater, while being
able to see above water. |
8. Deccan banded gecko Geckoella
deccanensis: Geckos have excellent vision. Night-hunting
reptiles, they have large pupils that shrink to
slits during the day. Research suggests that nocturnal
geckos may be capable of colour vision at low light
intensities.
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9. Blackbuck Antelope cervicapara:
Swift animals like the blackbuck usually have large
eyes to enable them to see better and to evade enemies.
The word Anthalops in Greek has probably evolved
from anthos (Greek) a flower and ops (Greek) the
eye, which refers to the beautiful eyes of the antelope. |
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