Reading the pulse through his lens

“So you know what I will be up to when I retire,” says Dr Sandeep who can be seen at the break of the dawn, taking pictures of various species of birds in Chandigarh (He has already discovered 40 of them plus a few migratory ones).

Wildlife and natural photography is what the shutterbug is most inclined towards and his holidays lead him to bird sanctuaries, wildlife parks, safaris and spaces abundant in natural beauty. His most recent trip was to the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and the immense scope for photography had him engrossed for days.

“In fact, I choose most of my destinations for travel keeping in mind what they offer me as a photographer. When I am with my camera, I am transported to another world, where I need no one else,” says Dr Chhatwal who over the years has gone into the technical details of photography and is guided by a circle of photographer friends and appreciators.

Photography competitions, workshops, lectures…the doctor involves himself in almost every manner with camera. Having won many prizes, including two consecutive ones at the Rose Garden Festival and ‘Chandigarh in April’ contest, the doctor upgrades his skills by reading photography books, magazines, visiting exhibitions and interacting with other photographers.

“It’s all about imagination and presenting the same moment in a unique manner, one that you can keep close to your heart forever,” shares the doctor whose mind these days is dominated by Macro-photography —extreme close-ups of things.

“And I venture out in the dark very often to take pictures of owls and also the Lake, where I go almost every Sunday,” says Dr Chhatwal who doesn’t invest much in expensive equipment, but instead prefers having a variety of lenses, which he says make all the difference. “In all our lives there is an unexplored potential that needs to be tapped, enjoyed. It gives us a feeling of total abandon,” concludes the doctor.