About Hira Punjabi

Hira Punjabi is a renowned wildlife photographer in India. He started affection towards nature, right from his childhood. He is a member of many working nature organization like Bombay Natural History Society etc. He always concern about wildlife matters. “Hira believes photography for the cause of protecting endangered species and places. Even pictures can change the minds of people.”

Hira works published in Bombay Natural History Society and WWF, Aranayak Calendars and Greeting cards. Hira is regular contributes his articles and photographs to many magazines such as Sanctuary Asia,Hornbill, Mistnet, Hemisphere(Singapore) and Lonely Planet Publication (Australia), Better photography and Namaskar (Air India), National Wild Life Magzine(USA), Natures Best Magizine(USA).

Hira has won many awards in photo competition on National and International level. In 2005 Hira is winner of two awards in USA._ _ _ _ read more....

Hira's first folder “Images of Nature” released on 5th October 2005 in his exhibition “Moods of Nature and wildlife”at NCPA in Mumbai.

Done a photographic survey of Kudremukh National Park and adjoining mining areas in December 2000 for Bombay Natural History Society.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.