Wildlife filmmaker and photographer Shaaz Jung studied Economics at the Utrecht University in Europe. Jung had to return to the forests of south India to revive the dreams of his childhood. He spent most of his childhood in the forests and it was time to do it all over again.

Jung has always been fascinated with the jungle and all the magic it hides deep inside its core. Wild cats were his favorite. The mysterious black panther was the ultimate perfection for the photographer. That’s why he decided to change his path and spend more time in the jungle.

 

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In the winds of dawn, no wolves shall howl, no owls shall fly, yet the night still walks. . . Shot on the new mirrorless Nikon Z7. . . #shaazjung #natgeowild #nikonasia #nikonindiaofficial #nikonz7 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #earthpix #blackpanther #kabini

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on May 24, 2019 at 6:03am PDT

The photographer was focused on the darkness inside the jungle. The Black Panthers. Jung made all the way to the Kabini Forest in Karnataka, India to explore the wilderness. He explored the area for two years and came back with awesome videos and photographs of the black king of the forest. Impressive!

 

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I studied the jungle and drew intricate patterns of shadow art, tracked creatures of the moon with an astrological chart, I’ve seen the flight of a Ghost-bird and how it changed through the seasons, how her swan-song summoned a Phoenix to defeat all the demons, I’ve followed the sun through its cycles, followed ancient tribes who gathered their disciples, I’ve immersed myself in the jungles endless knowledge bases, but not a step closer to understanding the basics. . . For a moonlit vibe, who better than the night himself? It’s hard to comprehend how easily this animal would probably blend into the night. Hard to visualise how ethereal it may be to see him in nothing but the moonshine. As obscure as darkness, we’d be oblivious to his presence but for the occasional hints of luminous eyes and white canines. In search of the unknown, here’s a visual concept of what it could look like, however the real magic that resonates around it lies in the fact that we will never know. . . #shaazjung #nikon #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #earthpix #blackpanther

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jul 24, 2019 at 5:59am PDT

“I spent two and a half years in the Kabini Forest, between December 2017 and January 2020, on a filming permit. This filming permit allowed [me and the team] to make a documentary on the black panther for National Geographic.”

 

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That lonely feeling, when the forest goes eerily silent but you know you’re not alone. That paranormal sensation where you can’t help but feel like you’re being watched. On most days, I look around and see nothing. But sometimes, when the wind dies and the leaves stop swaying, your eyes meet their eyes. . . The jungle is always alive, always watching. . . Which pair of eyes do you think surprised me most? . . #shaazjung #nikon #nikonindia #nature #wildlife #blackpanther #tiger #lion #cheetah #bigcats

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jun 3, 2020 at 5:12am PDT

 

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I studied the jungle and drew intricate patterns of shadow art, tracked creatures of the moon with an astrological chart, I’ve seen the flight of a Ghost-bird and how it changed through the seasons, how her swan-song summoned a Phoenix to defeat all the demons, I’ve followed the sun through its cycles, followed ancient tribes who gathered their disciples, I’ve immersed myself in the jungles endless knowledge bases, but not a step closer to understanding the basics. . . For a moonlit vibe, who better than the night himself? It’s hard to comprehend how easily this animal would probably blend into the night. Hard to visualise how ethereal it may be to see him in nothing but the moonshine. As obscure as darkness, we’d be oblivious to his presence but for the occasional hints of luminous eyes and white canines. In search of the unknown, here’s a visual concept of what it could look like, however the real magic that resonates around it lies in the fact that we will never know. . . #shaazjung #nikon #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #earthpix #blackpanther

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jul 24, 2019 at 5:59am PDT

Every day brought a new adventure for Jung. He wasn’t afraid to dive into the unknown. He wanted to learn more about the black panther and its brilliance. According to Jung, this was one of the most challenging projects he has ever done.

 

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In search of psithurism, I found myself under the ancient trees of life, as silver raindrops danced and wild flowers reached for the sky. The air was rare that day, laden with secrets, and in that powerful silence, I found the Panther. . . I’m not one for numbers but we recently hit half a million and I want to thank all of you for being the backbone of this page. It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve met some incredibly talented people on this platform. Thank you for supporting me 🙏🏼 . . #shaazjung #500k #nikon #natgeowild #nature #wildlife #blackpanther

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Apr 12, 2020 at 5:20am PDT

 

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Sunrise in the ‘Forest of the First Trees’ . . Shot with the Nikon Z7. . . #shaazjung #nikonasia #nikonz7 #nikonindiaofficial #earthpix #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jul 17, 2019 at 6:16am PDT

“This black panther is a leopard with an abundance of melanin. Unlike other cats in the Kabini Forest, there is only one black panther,” Jung explained. “This of course makes him far more difficult to photograph. However, since 2015… photographers have been fortunate enough to see him and take pictures. We are, however, the first to make a dedicated movie on him.”

 

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There’s something inexplicably beautiful about the melancholic mist and how it transforms dawn into an eerie land of the lost. The paths may seem deceptively apparent and it’s destinations unknown, but don’t be afraid to wander in the mist, for he who walks the endless path shall find the greatest treasures. . . Filmed with the #nikonz7 on a misty morning in the forests of South India. . . Song credit: A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics by James Horner. . . #shaazjung #nikon #nikonindiaofficial #nikonasia #wildlife #nature #mist

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jan 18, 2020 at 4:25am PST

Wildlife photographers have to be patient while working on their project. They have to learn it early in their careers, and Jung knows that best.

 

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An eerie glow of first light hangs between the trees, silhouettes of branches dance without their leaves, wicked is the wind that waltzes thick as thieves, frigid is the mist for in it something breathes. . . This image does absolutely no justice to what we had witnessed that morning. We drove out at first light and watched darkness lift to reveal nothing but ambiguous shapes in the thick mist. We parked ourselves under the old Banyan, where he was seen the day before. The silence was deafening and dawn was like the dead of night. No songbirds sang, no crickets hummed yet there was an eerie sensation of being watched. Spending years on the same track, tracking the same animals, strengthens your intuition and within minutes a ghostly figure slowly took shape on the road ahead. It drifted by us in absolute silence and was by far my most chilling experience with the black panther. . . View my story for the BTS video. At this point, the light was far better but the image above was shot in extremely low light. I’ve played around with it in post to revive some light but kept it dark to try and retain some of it’s original vibe. . . #shaazjung #nikonz7 #nikonasia #blackpanther #wildlife #nature #natgeo #nikon #kabini

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Jan 21, 2020 at 4:34am PST

 

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My jungle is ethereal, pink leaves and lucid dreaming, I manipulate the world that you believe in. . . #shaazjung #nikon #nature #wildlife #environmentalsurrealism

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Aug 23, 2019 at 7:21am PDT

 “It’s been an incredible journey,” Jung said. “I would like to thank the Karnataka Forest Department for protecting these forests. Their hard work enables us to catch glimpses of these beautiful animals that are thriving in our Indian forests.”

 

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This year was about exploring the unexplored and understanding the unfathomable. My 2019 belonged to the worlds most elusive. Over 150 sightings, 8TB of images, 50TB of footage, a National Geographic film and lifetime of unforgettable memories. We spent ten hours a day, everyday, trying to understand the black panther but true wisdom in the jungle is knowing you know nothing about its true origins. Everyday was a journey into the unknown, as we attempted to unravel the secrets of a cat very few have documented long enough to understand not just his character, but also the little idiosyncrasies that make him unique. The result is an overwhelming portfolio, and possibly the first in the world, of a melanistic leopard in the wild hunting, mating, fighting and thriving against the odds of natural selection. I want to thank all of you for being a part of my journey this year. The jungle can be a lonely place but thanks to all of you, never have I felt alone. Nature is where it all begins and I hope my work this year has inspired you to fall in love with the wilderness and visit the jungles. Have a wonderful new year and see you on the flip side. Shaaz . . Here are ten panther images from 2019. Which one was your favourite? . . #shaazjung #blackpanther #natgeo #natgeowild #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Dec 31, 2019 at 4:21am PST

Jung grew up in South India. He spent his days in deep jungle forests and loved India’s best national parks in the area. Jung respects South India and all its glory.

The jungle is a labyrinth riddled with secrets that are waiting to be uncovered,” Jung said of his adventure in the jungle. “Every day in the forest was like a puzzle and I had to put the pieces of this puzzle together in order to successfully unlock its secrets.”

 

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A tale of two tails. . . #shaazjung #nikon #blackpanther #nature #wildlife

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Oct 19, 2019 at 4:35am PDT

 

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Darkness lives, for the night has eyes. . . #shaazjung #panther #natgeo #natgeowild #earthcapture #nikonasia #nikonmea #wildlife #wildlifephotography #love

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Aug 14, 2018 at 7:28am PDT

His camera is his best friend, and Jung uses it to capture the most magnificent details of the jungle.

“The camera allowed me to take photographs, immortalizing these moments, relishing life, and inspiring the world. Wildlife is unpredictable and I love the challenge of tracking your subject before you can photograph it. It feels far more rewarding.”

 

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Kingdom of the Panther . . #shaazjung #nikon #blackpanther #nature #wildlife #earthpix

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Oct 8, 2019 at 7:53am PDT

 

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The forest of the undying, where darkness forever descends. . . Photographed last evening. . . #shaazjung #nikon #nature #wildlife

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung) on Aug 31, 2019 at 7:43am PDT

If by any chance you didn’t know, Jung is an ambassador for Nikon India and Samsung. The photographer also runs Safari Lodges in South India and East Africa, offering private safaris. Would you join his adventurous team?

Sources:
themindunleashed.com
www.boredpanda.com