“Chasing Shadows: My Journey of Photographing the Elusive Leopards”

Leopards have always been an obsession for me, exuding a mystery that sets them apart from other big cats. My first encounter with a leopard was in 2009 during my trip to Kabani, which also marked my debut with a 600mm lens. I’ll admit, I barely knew how to use the lens to its full potential back then (not that I claim mastery even now!). Sharing a jeep with a couple of seasoned photographers, I later saw their images and realized just how much I needed to learn before I could call myself a wildlife photographer. But that’s a story for another day—right now, let me recount my journey with leopards.

My First Image of a Leopard -Kabini 2009

After that first sighting—probably a stroke of beginner’s luck—it was a long wait before my next one in 2014. This happened in Gir, where I had started making two trips a year after hearing that leopards were relatively easier to spot there. My leopard sighting in Gir is an experience I’ll never forget.

Almost every guide in Gir knew my sole purpose to visit Gir was to see a leopard. As soon as I arrived at the safari office, guides would eagerly show me photos and videos of recent leopard sightings. I’d joke with them, saying, “Come be my guide and show me a leopard!” Some would reply with a laugh, “Sir, once we show you a leopard, you might stop coming!”

On the first day of my summer trip in May 2014, my driver introduced me to Bikku Bhai, a senior guide with a confident demeanor. He assured me, “I’ll show you a leopard.” He led us to a specific spot, told the driver to park, and said, “Now we wait. If you want to sleep, you can—I’ll wake you up when the leopard arrives.” About 20 minutes later, he softly announced that the leopard was approaching and asked me to get ready. I was overjoyed, filled with excitement as I began photographing the majestic cat.

Then my driver said, “Sir, lion.” Focused on the leopard, I replied dismissively, “I don’t want to shoot lions.” Again, he said, “Sir, lion,” and this time, I firmly told him not to disturb me. But when he repeated, “Sir, lion walking toward the leopard,” I realized I might miss an extraordinary natural history moment. I quickly grabbed my 300mm lens and managed a few shots with both the lion and leopard in the frame, though the lion was out of focus. In hindsight, I should’ve listened to my driver earlier and switched to my 70-200mm lens. The leopard, however, was far more alert and darted up a tree just in time to escape.

After the unforgettable first encounter with a Gir leopard i was fortunate to see them twice more before I stopped visiting the park after 2017

My luck with leopards in Africa wasn’t much better. I didn’t see any in Kenya and had just one  sighting in Tanzania. But In Botswana, I spent an entire day with a mother leopard and her cub as they worked to open a giraffe carcass before other predators arrived—a rare but captivating scene.

Tanzania- 2012

Botswana-2017

After 2014, my leopard sightings were sporadic and mostly unremarkable—until 2020, when a trip to Bandipur changed everything. On a single drive, I had the incredible fortune of spotting four leopards, including an unforgettable encounter with a male attempting to stalk a gaur calf. The attempt nearly ended in disaster as the entire herd charged at him, forcing the leopard to retreat. By the skin of his teeth, he escaped by scrambling up a tree, where he remained perched for about 40 minutes until the gaurs finally dispersed

The Male Leopard treed by the Gaurs

A terrified Leopard Hanging on to dear life.you can see one of the adult Gour in the undergrowth.

This dramatic moment felt like a turning point in my leopard encounters. Remarkably, until then, I had seen more snow leopards than leopards.

Seeing a leopard in Corbett took even longer—11 years, to be exact. Finally, in 2023, as I was heading out of Dhikala, I saw my first leopard there.

My first Leopard photograph from Dikhala( Corbett)

subsequent Sightings

Since 2020, my leopard luck has taken a remarkable turn. One of the most unforgettable moments was in Panna, where I photographed a leopard trapped on a tree, surrounded by four subadult tigers below—a scene straight out of a wildlife documentary

Panna-2024

Ranthambore

Udaipur

Jhalana

Bera

Mudumalai

A melanistic leopard-Kabini

Leopards have been my greatest teachers, instilling in me the virtues of patience, humility, and the art of truly being in the moment. Every encounter, whether a fleeting glimpse or a heart-stopping spectacle, has deepened my fascination and respect for these elusive cats.

 From my beginner’s luck in Kabani to the cinematic scene in Panna, my journey with leopards has been nothing short of extraordinary. As I look back, I realize these elusive cats are not just subjects for my lens— they embody the raw, untamed spirit and unpredictable magic of the wilderness. They remind me why I fell in love with wildlife photography and why the call of the wild continues to fuel my passion. Here’s to the countless stories yet to unfold, one leopard at a time.