Filming Wildlife with Canon Cinema C300 Mark II

I recently tried the Canon Cinema C300 Mark II to test its suitability for wildlife and low light filming. I have been using the Canon Cinema C300 Mark I since 2012 and was eager to test the Mark II version.

The Canon Cinema C300 Mark II camera is priced at a hefty $16000 US dollars.

I found the 4K files of the C300 Mark II to be highly detailed. The dynamic range is good even in the c-log. According to Canon the C-log 2 has got 15 stops of dynamic range.

For more check the attached video review.

On the Brink: Bee-eaters of Naguvanahalli

We often hear the sounds of these tiny, bright coloured birds and if we are fortunate see them holding a bee in their beaks. These are global citizens and their needs take them far and wide.

During the breeding season starting with April, these blue-tailed bee-eaters visit parts of India and find out suitable habitat on river banks. Unlike many other birds, these bee-eaters are ground nesting birds. The chick is fed with bees regularly till it is able to hunt on its own. Every year they return during the breeding season. This has been continuing for eons. Unfortunately they don't know that our concept of development means taking over all those river fronts and "developing" or concretising those.

This film was done in a small sleepy village called Naguvanahalli near Srirangapatna, mysore.

Sharing a short film, all of 3 mins keeping in mind the busy schedules of our viewers. You may click on this link to view "On the Brink: Bee-eaters of Naguvanahalli" https://youtu.be/tqocpyGA3GA

Save the Himalaya

Two years ago I was filming in Uttarakhand in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary when the first landslides started. I immediately knew that something is wrong and then came back to Rudraprayag. The next day the sky was clear and it didn't rain. So I stayed back a day and then went to a near by village called Gauchar to interview a woman whose grand son was carried away by a leopard. Though I felt like going to Pauri region, but something deep within me was telling me to get out of the place.

I drove back to Delhi in my trusted Tata Safari. Within three days, nature showed us its violent side and swept away many a bridge, building, roads and villages. Thousands of people perished. Even today skeletons are being found.

In this times when the memory of people is extremely short and attention span even shorter, I am sharing a short video that I had done to make people aware. Please view it here or in youtube at the following link: https://youtu.be/aDIGMh_rA54

Wild India: Wandering with Camels

Rann of Kutch: Wandering with Camels

Sharing a short video of from my explorations in Rann of Kutch. Technically this short video is not of wildlife, as I have focused on Camels. I shot this while taking break from the intense midday heat of the december sun. Yes, it was december and Kutch like any other desert landscape is very hot during day tiime. 

These camels can drink about 70-100 litres of water at one go. This helps regulate their body temperature. The maldharis who manage these camel herds are poor folks. They drink the milk and tea. They hardly have anything else to eat. The camel milk is to be drunk fresh. 

Do let me know after watching this:

You can also click this link to watch the video: https://youtu.be/va4pNemgHVU

This was shot with a Canon Cinema C300 camera at 1080p. More of this series will be posted later. 

Wild India: Jungle Cat

The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) like all other cats appear cute on first sight. The jungle cat is difficult to sight in the wild, however they are not threatened. They can often be seen looking for prey during the day time.

They are not only found in the forest, but also can be found in swamps and other wetlands and can also be seen near human habitations if there is a wetland nearby. They do inbreed with domestic cats. Barrings on the flanks, pointed ears, tuft of hair on the ear tip, black bands on the tail tip are some of the identifying marks.

Unfortunately, due to reclaiming of wetlands for real estate purposes, the jungle cat is increasingly losing its habitat and is getting wiped out. According to IUCN redlist their population trend is decreasing.

This footage was shot in 1080 at 24p. 

Changeable Hawk Eagle on Kill

Sharing a short video of a Changeable Hawk eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) eagle with its kill. I was in Kabini ie. Nagarhole National Park in India and was in search of leopards. This Changeable hawk eagle was perched on a tree infront of us and then suddenly it dived to the ground. Thinking that it would have caught some prey, we moved ahead and the eagle landed on a nearby tree with the rodent kill.

The Changeable hawk eagle then proceeded to strip the fur of its prey and after eating cleaned its beak by rubbing it on the tree. It defecated and then flew off.

Without these birds of prey the rodent population would have exploded. We should have enough trees so that these birds can perch and then hunt the rats.

This was shot with a Canon Cinema C300 camera in 1080p at25 fps. 

Wild Tiger

Wild Tigers

With each passing day, the number of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in the wild is coming down due to poaching and loss of habitat. The demand for tiger skin and other body parts emanating from China has become a very lucrative proposition for various people as the loopholes in the prosecution process doesn't come as a deterrent.

Habitat loss due to construction of large dams, canals, land grabbing and the fragmentation of habitat by roads has resulted in very less space for the tigers. The population of their prey like deers, sambars, wild boars etc also get reduced impacting the tigers. Sharing some footage of wild tigers so that you all can enjoy.