Hi, I'm Aarjvi Parekh, a 14-year-old wildlife photographer with a deep-rooted passion for nature and animals. I am actually a bachelor in Kathak (Visharad) and have many hobbies apart from my strong foothold on academics including singing, sketching, playing badminton, sprinting, swimming and hosting programs. Ever since I was a child, when my mates used to watch cartoons, I was captivated by wildlife documentaries shown to me by my parents on Discovery and Animal Planet, which sparked my fascination with the natural world and helped me gain knowledge. Who knew this interest would turn me into a photographer, an unprecedented profession at this age? Along with a love for animals, these early interests led me to visit several national parks with my mom and dad, where I found peace and a sense of relief through exploring wildlife from my hectic study schedule. I was completely blind and blank and had no interest in the world of photography; wilds simply used to let me feel fresh. I continued to visit various national parks in my every short to every long vacation and used to capture my favorite tigers through my parents' mobile lens.

Now let me tell you how I developed an interest in the world of photography... Last year, in March 2023, we planned to explore Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. Till then, we were exploring Madhya Pradesh only. We got to know that mobiles were not allowed there. The question aroused in mine and pap's mind: how to capture the photos?? That was the time when we took a Tamron 70-200 lens and Canon 5D III at rent and learned some basics of photography and that was at the age of 12 when I finally picked up the lens for the first time, and since then, my journey as a photographer has taken off in full force. We then bought a Sony Alpha 7 IV, Sony 200-600 lens, Tamron 28-200 lens, and 1.5x teleconverter. Thanks to my parents, who induced in me this talent. Now, I strive to capture the beauty and uniqueness of woods through my lens, sharing the wonders of nature with the world and inspiring others to appreciate and protect the environment. It's a sort of enjoyment for me and something that makes me an inspiration to others...