It was 1998, in the last decade of slide film. I was on a safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on a winter morning. A layer of cold mist hung low in the forest, creating a moist chill. All the animals including me were hoping for the sun to emerge and add some warmth. As the sun began to rise and the veil of mist began to lift, we came across a covey of peafowl on a log, basking on the log, enjoying the gentle warmth of the early morning sun. They sat framed between a straight tree on the left and a slanted one on the right. Our angle could not have been better. I fired a few frames before the other folks in the vehicle got restless for having stopped for ‘merely peacocks’. The lighting was magical, and the scene surreal. To me, this image captures the essence of Bandipur in winter and transports me back to relive the moment for as long as I wish.

The image has won many awards including the 1st place in the International Category of the Wild Bird Competition, 1st place at the Brownsville Art Competition, 1st place at the CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year Award, and a special mention at the Sanctuary Asia awards.