Untamed Kenya at your doorstep

By: Dhara Vora  Date:  2012-01-30 Place: Mumbai 

Wanderers, a bunch of talented, amateur travel photographers have captured Kenya at its scenic, wildest best in an exhibition currently underway in the city

"Typically, photography enthusiasts end up sharing their photos with friends or posting it on Facebook. Through Wanderers we attempt to create a platform to these lovers of photography. We are amateur photographers and none of us practise photography as a profession.

A pelican in flight captured on camera by Sudheer Dharmadhikari

Our aim is to promote photo-travelling," says Atmaram Parab, founder of Wanderers, a group of photography enthusiasts who plan photography tours around the world. Founded in 2003, the group's current exhibition is a collection of 130 images that showcase the wildlife and the Masai tribe of Kenya.

Since, venues charge big money for hosting exhibitions, Wanderers holds exhibitions in lesser-known spaces in Borivli, Dombivli, Pune or places where the members manage to organise an exhibition.

So far, the group has managed 21 successful exhibitions. "Our next exhibition will showcase images from World Heritage Sites in India," reveals Parab. Previous exhibitions covered places such as Leh, Ladakh, Bhutan, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Konkan and the Andaman Islands. 

The Masai tribe, native of Kenya, photographed by Rekha Bhiwandikar

The present photographs were selected from 600 entries, all taken during different months spanning 2010-11. The final photographs selected include the works of members Rekha Bhiwandikar, Nirbhay Patil, Pramod Patil, Sudheer Dharmadhikari, Tushar Nidambur and Parab.

Parab sends mail alerts to every member in the group and plans each trip accordingly, based on the response. The group has members from all over India. At least three trips are held, annually. Every group has a mentor to accompany them.

The next trip of Wanderers will head to Sundarbans, Kaziranga and Majuli, which is the world's largest river island, situated on the Brahmaputra River. This trip will focus on capturing avian activity in these wild destinations.

Till February 5, 12 to 8 pm

At PL Deshpande Art Gallery, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi.

Call 9892182655 EMAIL atmparab2004@yahoo.com