Nitin Madhav
Photography
2023 Print Sale!
Elephants, cheetahs and gorillas are highly threatened animals. I'm donating all proceeds from this print sale to three organizations working to protect these creatures from extinction. Scroll down to see the photographs and for links to the organizations.My prints are museum quality, individually produced on special papers that will last hundreds of years.These prints are unsigned, unnumbered, and unframed -- offered in two sizes:
12"x18" for $100
16"x24" for $200Order by December 5, 2023 for delivery in the US before Christmas.
Thank you for your support!
Craig
One of my all time greatest life experiences was meeting Craig, unique among the remaining super tusker elephants. He was kind and gracious as he posed for me while I took my photographs, coming within inches of me.November 2021 in Tawi Conservancy, Kenya
Brothers in Arms
I will forever be in awe of my guides' ability to track animals. I told my guide that I wanted to see cheetahs, and he said, "you never know what nature will provide". We were in an area of Ruaha National Park known as 'Serengeti Ndogo' -- Little Serengeti -- an area that was perfect for cheetahs. He just had a call from a friend who told him that he saw a cheetah under a baobab tree. The whole park is filled with baobab trees, so I had no idea how he was going to find this tree. We sped along, and despite the fact that we were going at a good clip, he pointed and said, "There!". "Where?" I asked. We drove another 1/2 a mile and he pointed to these brothers taking a nap under a tree. I don't know how he saw the cheetahs, but I will forever be grateful that he found them!September 2020 in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Esau at Lunch
Esau is one of the next generation of Amboseli's supertusker elephants. One cloudy day, I joined him as he was eating the scrub grasses at lunch time. He let me get very close and wasn't bothered by me in the least.While the elephant population in Africa has drastically declined, Amboseli provides a unique haven since both the research done there,and the tourists who visit, as well as the Maasai who inhabit the area have done a lot to protect them. Uniquely, Amboseli is also home to some two dozen of the world's last remaining super tusker elephants – each trunk weighing about 200 lbs.July 2021 in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
Dustbath
The dry scrub of the Amboseli Plains creates lots of dust devils -- called 'empusel' in the Maa language spoken by the Maasai. This elephant is bathing in the dust to protect himself from insects.July 2021 in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
I'm Looking At You
I never fully understood that mountain gorillas lived at higher altitudes until a friend pointed out that they were called 'mountain' gorillas. I had to trek six hours in the jungles of the Virunga Mountains in Uganda to come across this family of gorillas. They mostly ignored me as I was taking pictures, until I saw one of the silverbacks just staring at me. We stared at each other for a few minutes when I took this portrait.September 2022 in Mgahinga National Park, Uganda
I've just discovered I have a trunk!
I'm really struck by the world that we're leaving behind for our children -- those human and animal. Watching this baby elephant squeal with delight playing in the marshes of Amboseli gave me such joy -- and made me hopeful that future generations will also be able to enjoy such beauty.November 2021 in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Reclining
After trekking six hours in the jungles of the Virunga Mountains, I spent quite some time sitting still, watching the family of gorillas as they were eating, playing and generally at leisure. One of the mothers moved towards me, leaned against a moss-covered tree watching her children play. Although she could probably have crushed me, she was strong, yet remarkably gentle with her children.September 2022 in Mgahinga National Park, Uganda
Cranes over Kilimanjaro
I wanted to take my version of the iconic photo of a elephant in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As I was waiting for elephants to make their way towards the marshes, I heard a squawking overhead -- and saw a pair of crested cranes, with Kilimanjaro in the background.November 2020 in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Lioness
There's something to be said for getting very close to animals to take intimate portraits. You can't always do this from a safe distance using a telephoto lens. I spent significant time with this lioness one morning as we each gazed into each others' eyes. Did she think I looked tasty? Perhaps not!September 2020 in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
The Matriarch
With Mount Kilimanjaro at one end, the Amboseli Plain is interspersed with marshes where the elephants go to eat and loblolly in the cooling waters. This family, led by its matriarch, crossed the plains with the snow-covered mountain in the background, partially hidden by the clouds.November 2020 in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
About Me
I'm Nitin Madhav, a Washington, DC-based photographer, and have worked in countries in conflict for the past three decades. While I normally take portraits of people, during the pandemic, I turned towards wildlife portraits to showcase the magnificence of the Earth's threatened megafauna.I hope my work displays my deep reverence for my subjects by capturing their souls by getting as close as possible, without disrupting, harming or baiting the animals. I work with guides who understand their behavior and will wait (sometimes for hours) for the subject to feel comfortable with my presence before I even pick up my camera.
Questions? Get in touch!
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a message, or take a look at my website.
Get to know my photography better.
Get to know the NGOs I'm supporting better: