Ripan Biswas talks spiders, flies and idyllic encounters with dolphins <\/h4>\n\n
WITH BBC <\/em>WILDLIFE <\/em>PICTURE EDITOR TOM GILKS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Ripan catching close-ups of flying termites <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
Why focus on the small creatures rather than the big ones? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Small creatures are always overlooked, yet play a vital role in the environment. Without them our ecosystems would collapse. <\/p>\n\n
What macro species is the most challenging to photograph? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Spiders, because they are frequently moving. Under high magnification, the smallest movement causes blur, so you have to wait for the spider to stand still. <\/p>\n\n
What\u2019s your biggest \u2018Oh drat it!\u2019 moment to date? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
I was on a four-day shoot in Kaziranga National Park and I didn\u2019t realise my camera was set to \u2018Jpeg basic\u2019 mode. My photos were completely un-printable and couldn\u2019t be entered in any contests. <\/p>\n\n
What is the hardest thing about macro photography in the field? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
For me, working in India, it\u2019s the heat and humidity. Drops of sweat are all over your gear and you feel dehydrated and tired. Unfortunately, most of my subjects seem to like these two things. <\/p>\n\n
What\u2019s the worst bite or sting you\u2019ve sustained in the name of photography? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
I\u2019ve been bitten several times while working with weaver ants. They have very powerful mandibles, and after chewing your skin they douse the wound in formic acid. It hurts… <\/p>\n\n
What\u2019s been your closest shave? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Once I was shooting a butterfly and didn\u2019t see the venomous cobra beside it. I jumped out of its way just in time… <\/p>\n\n
What\u2019s the most extreme shoot you\u2019ve ever done? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
In 2021, I spent two weeks photographing dolphins in the lower regions of the River Ganges. I spent all day, every day, in a small boat with no toilet, searching for these elusive creatures. They only surface for a fraction of a second when they need to breathe. Whenever one emerged, I had less than a second to position my camera, focus on its head and press the shutter, all in the scorching heat (and humidity), from a rocking boat. <\/p>\n\n
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