Wildlife photographer Sathrajith Karad is as unique as his name. In Hindu mythology, Sathrajith was an ardent devotee of the Sun god, who eventually gifted him a precious jewel called the Syamanthakam, a source of endless prosperity. The Sathrajith in question worked day and night to manifest his own gem, a photograph of the snow leopard in the Himalayas. That is one of the images showcased as part of the exhibition ‘Kaananam: The Rhythm of Wild’, which recently concluded at the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi Art Gallery in Kozhikode.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Sathrajith described the perseverance it takes for a common man to pursue expensive passions such as travelling and photography, and in his own words, how believing in your dreams can help you reach even the Himalayas; in his case, quite literally.

The tyre shop that fuelled his dreams

Sathrajith, 46, runs a shop named Hari Tyre Clinic in Ramanattukara, Kozhikode. A person who likes to think unconventionally, he deliberately named it a ‘clinic’ since he considers his work similar to that of a doctor, only working on tyres and vehicle parts instead of the human body. “Many people have been confused if they have arrived at the right place when they see the word ‘clinic’”, Sathrajith says with a beaming smile.

He was always confident that he could service the kinds of vehicles which few workshops like his would take up, such as electric scooters and JCBs. That confidence continues to this day. Combined with his diligence to staying attuned to customer needs, his shop has successfully grown its customer base over the years.

Interestingly, two of his wildlife photographs also adorn the walls of his shop, which have led to many serendipitous conversations and friendships. Those grease-smeared walls as well as his two assistants are well-accustomed to his stories of encountering the wild. “They move away now when I start recounting my stories to a new customer, because they have tired of hearing the same tales so many times,” he laughs.

For over a decade now, Sathrajith has followed the same yearly plan: Work overtime ten months of the year, including on holidays, so that he can travel for the remaining two months. This strategy has successfully led him to several forested areas in Kerala and across the country, from the evergreen Nelliampathy to wildlife reserves and sanctuaries such as Bandipur (Karnataka), Tadoba (Maharashtra), Gir (Gujarat), as well as landscapes of the Kutch and the Northeast.

“Whatever positive changes have happened in my life, I owe it to photography. I grew my business, hired two staff for my shop giving me more freedom to travel, made many friends, learned Hindi, overcame my anger issues, and made savings which enabled me to look after my family,” he said.

Coincidentally, it was during one of these travels in Nagaland, that he met a man who runs a “bike hospital”. Sathrajith recalled how he excitedly shared his thoughts with an individual from an entirely different culture, who shared the same perspective.

Beginning of interest in wildlife photography

His fascination with nature and understanding of conservation began at an early age, through travelling and taking part in youth movements.

“Going trekking with the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) in my younger days piqued my interest for the woods and its animal inhabitants. I also went rallying for water conservation under the aegis of the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), in which one of my relatives served as a leader.” Though he did not realise the seriousness of these causes then, these activities laid the seeds for what would later become a core philosophy he continues to this day, from taking part in social forestry initiatives and reducing the use of plastic in daily life, to encouraging schoolchildren to be aware of the biodiversity in their own backyards.

He jovially recalls telling his wife on the first night after their wedding that this was technically his second marriage, since he was married to the forest first. Though she did not understand the depth of his “madness” then, it soon became apparent when she witnessed him literally burning the midnight oil in order to travel to the wilderness every weekend.

Desire to buy a professional camera

An intense desire to buy a good camera took root in him after he realised the importance of documenting animal sightings. His friends wouldn’t believe him when he returned from the YHAI trips and excitedly shared memories of spotting a leopard in the forest. Mere words wouldn't gain their trust, so Sathrajith set his sight on a DSLR camera, starting a daily deposit to save enough to be able to afford one.

It took Sathrajith over three years to buy his first camera, a Canon 50D, working extra hours and on Sundays, holding onto hope even when everyone around him mocked what they perceived as greed or madness. Through all that time, the fire of his aim kept him going, to the extent that he never found the effort arduous, since it was only taking him nearer to his dreams.

When asked about photography inspirations, Sathrajith named KJ Vincent, widely considered one of Kerala’s best photographers, who loved to capture scenes of the Jellikettu in Tamil Nadu. Sathrajith particularly remembers one of Vincent’s famous images which freezed the moment when a bull horn pierced a man’s hand, just before the pain registered. That image struck him for its timing and the power of the medium to document even a split second which might otherwise go unnoticed.

The physically demanding nature of the job

The physically demanding nature of his day job has helped sustain his passion for photography as well, since it often takes hours of travelling, multiple trips and days of waiting to spot one animal, especially elusive creatures in the deep forests of Kerala. While animals in wildlife reserves like Bandipur are habituated to human presence and are thus more likely to stray into a camera frame, venturing into a forest unadulterated by human encroachment takes prior knowledge of animal behaviour and plenty of patience.

Sathrajith’s interest in conservation has enabled him to actively understand the wildlife he wants to capture on camera, especially since Kerala’s evergreen forests and varying terrain make spotting big cats, his favourite subjects, challenging. He recollected how he had to wait a painstaking three years to get a photograph of the Bengal tiger, for instance, and the moment materialised not on home turf but in Maharashtra's Tadoba Tiger Reserve. The wait, though, is what makes each photograph more valuable and rewarding for him.

Photographing the snow leopard in its habitat

The desire to see the snow leopard took root in him after he saw photographs of the elusive animal in an issue of the Yathra magazine. Even after he managed to locate a person who had travelled to the Himalayas on a similar quest, it was only on his second trip to Leh-Ladakh that he could capture the animal in all its glory.

He remembers that it was the killed yak that he spotted first. All of a sudden, the leopard leapt by him, quickly ascending the cliff. Sathrajith zoomed into the snow with a binocular to ensure the identity of the animal, since his lens was insufficient to capture a close-up image at that distance. Seeing the animal stare at him while perched atop the cliff face gave him goosebumps of joy even in the freezing cold. Though the snow leopard has its back turned on the frame in the image he captured, Sathrajith felt fulfilled that his dreams had carried him so far.

Dream of visiting Kenya

Like any wildlife photographer, Sathrajith dreams of photographing animals in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. Everything required for that trip was almost in place when it had to be stalled to build a home for his family of four, including his wife and two school-going children. Yet, he believes he will travel to Kenya one day and capture the images he has dreamt about for long, during the famed wildebeest migration.

Another dream he harbours is capturing a good photograph of a tiger in Kerala’s wilderness. Though he has spotted the creature on his many travels within Kerala, he has so far not been able to return with a satisfactory photograph.

Looking back on his life, Satharjith has no regrets. “When I look at my peers and compare how we conduct our lives, I consider myself a success, because I am able to spend the money I earn for the things I find meaningful. My hard work hasn’t been in vain,” he states proudly.

One of his Instagram captions goes, “Take only memories. Leave only footprints.” One who clearly lives by this philosophy is bound to reach the next destination, no matter how long it takes. Until then, Sathrajith will be faithfully working in his shop, regaling and inspiring people to travel and live fuller lives.