Late Sri B.N.S. Deo

BNS Deo was undoubtedly one of the most acknowledged Nature Photographer of the country. He was a humble, sensitive and passionate man in love with nature and photography. He belonged to the erstwhile Royal family of Korea in Madhya Pradesh. He left shikar and took up photography – shooting to preserve rather than to kill. BNS Deo participated in national and international salons from 1955 to 1984 and in the process was the first Indian to obtain the FRPS in Nature photography and probably the first to shoot in East Africa.

I learnt from my esteemed and respected friend O.C. Edwards, what constitutes a good nature photograph, 35 years ago, but still holds good. Because of improvement in technology, technical excellence like sharpness, exposure, colour are taken for granted. I lay great importance in behaviour pattern, natural history content and rarity of the species photographed. Action is welcome but it should be of the kind which the subject does or goes through in its daily life.

The code of ethics for nature photographers clearly says that the safety and welfare of the subject is more important that the photograph. Let us strive for this, remembering that our success, honours and awards have come to us, primarily because of our subjects. This holds true for all nature and wild life photographers throughout the world

His love for photography influenced his daughter and son to take up serious photography. B.N.S. Deo will be remembered for his humility, dedication for photography and good sense of humour.