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Tiny Oasis

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  May 2020—a few months into the lockdown, with no real sense of the havoc that lay ahead for so many. One evening, aimlessly wandering through the house, I found myself in the kitchen, hoping a snack might somehow ease the boredom. It was around 6 PM on a summer evening. The kitchen was dim, though outside, the last of the daylight lingered. That’s when I noticed them—a few tiny ants clustered around a single drop of water on the counter. The sight stopped me. Watching these creatures, all gathered around that minuscule oasis, I felt a strange fascination. How methodically they arranged themselves. I realized this was a perfect moment to capture in a macro image—a small world magnified. Little did I know that this simple moment would lead to something unexpected—a shot that would later win an honorable mention in the International Photography Awards, in the category of macro photography.

The cubs

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  One of my most beloved forests in our country, Kanha Tiger Reserve, beckoned me once again. This time, I ventured into its embrace in mid-June, when the occasional rain shower brought a welcome respite from the blistering summer heat. The forest was in a state of transformation, the vibrant green of new life slowly replacing the brown hues of the dry season. Kanha Tiger Reserve, a sprawling expanse of wilderness established in 1955, is nestled in Madhya Pradesh, about 160 km southeast of Jabalpur. The reserve covers roughly 950 sq km and is divided into Kanha-Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi zones, each offering its own unique charm. One damp, cold morning, as we waited for the Mukki zone forest gate to creak open, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Whispers of tiger sightings from the previous day were scarce, and the forest seemed to hold its secrets close. Undeterred, we decided to take a less-explored path, guided by instinct and a thirst for adventure. The forest was shrouded in an