Photographer Paul Nicholls, whose work is regularly published in national and regional publications, has just returned from ‘the trip of a lifetime.’
Paul, a supporter of the Born Free Foundation, a wildlife conservation charity, spent more than a week photographing sometimes elusive tigers in the wild.
“I first went to India in 2007 and visited Ranthambore National Park wildlife reserve near the town of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan briefly for two days,” said Paul.
“We did three safaris and I had one distant sighting of a tiger. I swore I would return one day with my camera gear and photograph tigers properly. Life goes on then an opportunity arose for me to share a Jeep with fantastic tiger guide Nafees Mohammed and amazing American Wildlife Photographer Kim Sullivan.
“On the first four safaris there was no sign of a tiger, then on the fifth a mother and cubs appeared.
“On the sixth safari we spotted a tiger chasing sambar deer – they were heading straight towards us, missing the Jeep by inches.
“Sometimes I cannot believe my luck. It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to photograph tigers in the wild and I couldn’t have asked for a better result. The sambar deer also lived to see another day.”
Paul hopes to have the spectacular pictures published and even stage an exhibition.
Pictures by Paul Nicholls.
