Photography by Pratap J – Travel, Nature and Outdoor Photography by Bangalore Based Photographer

Hello! Welcome to my Photography Website and Travel Blog

Embark on a visual odyssey with me! Based in Bangalore, I now call the stunning coast of Karnataka home. Specializing in aerial, astro, and outdoor nature photography, I’ve been crafting visual tales since 2007 through the lens of my trusted DSLR. Beyond photography, I wear many hats: a travel blogger, a mentor for aspiring photographers, and a printmaker. Here, on this website, I present a non-commercial celebration of my passion for nature, travel, and the great outdoors. Welcome to my world of imagery!

The Latest from Me

2025: I have temporarily stopped doing any active photography. If you wish to learn Lightroom or Photoshop, drop me an email.

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Latest Travel Stories

A Perfect 2 Day Itinerary For A Family Trip To Dubai

October 18, 2024

Dubai shines as an acclaimed family-centric retreat due to its remarkable fusion of top-grade amenities, stimulating attractions, and exceptional cultural offerings. Boasting flawless beaches, enormous retail centers, and first-rate theme

Ladakh in August: A Monsoon Astrophotography Adventure

August 17, 2024

August typically marks the height of the monsoon season in India, making it difficult to find destinations with clear skies. However, I was fortunate to embark on a spontaneous trip

Stargazing and Milky Way Photography in Zanskar

October 14, 2023

Standing beneath a blanket of twinkling stars, camera pointed at the luminous core of the Milky Way, waiting eagerly for the camera shutter to close – this is an obsession

Milky Way Photography Trip in Singalila National Park

In October 2022, I visited Singalila National Park in West Bengal, India, as part of a photography group. The itinerary was planned exclusively for four nights of Milky Way photography.

Dholavira in Kutch – Untouched Mysteries

September 17, 2022

I visited the island of Khadir Bet in Gujarat in September 2022. The ancient ruins of the Harappan Civilization is situated in Dholavira, a village to the west of the

Monsoon Road Trip in Malenadau, Karnataka

September 5, 2021

There are several ways to enjoy the rains. With the recent pandemic induced work from home situation, a lot of us have been hearing and watching raindrops from the comforts

Allured by Armenia – A week in Yerevan

Visiting Armenia was never on my bucket list. This tiny landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordering Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia is not a popular tourist destination. Once a part of

Shooting the Kichchu Haisodu Event During Makar Sankranti

January 16, 2020

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated across India in the month of January. It is known by different names in different states. But essentially, the festival is about farmers

Leaving the Crowds Behind – Kodanad, Tamil Nadu

November 24, 2019

“Take a bus to Mettupalayam. After you get off, catch another bus to Kotagiri. There is one every half an hour and it is a 45 minute journey. At Kotagiri,

8 Days in Iceland – An Island Shaped by Fire and Ice

October 27, 2019

I traveled to Iceland in October 2019, after several years of planning. You can’t help but love those beautiful photos of Iceland doing the rounds on social media. The Northern

Latest from my Photo Blog

Submerged Temple near TG Halli

September 14, 2019

Dams are always controversial. They are built for a purpose, but they are never accepted by everyone as a solution to the problem they are supposed to solve. Irrespective of

Milky Way over an ancient Hindu Hoysala Temple in Karnataka

Milky Way Above a Hoysala Temple

Hoysala style of temple building thrived in the South Deccan plateau, currently the region of Karnataka, between the 11th to 14th century. There are plenty of Hoysala temples here –

Chitrakote Falls in monochrome

Chitrakote Falls

February 27, 2019

Chitrakote Falls in Chattisgargh is a sight to behold. The massive flow of water from the Indravathi river as it tumbles down red rock which has weathered over aeons

a blue hour photo of the city of Shillong and umiam lake

An Evening in Shillong

January 6, 2019

I was in Meghalaya recently and it felt absolutely wonderful to be so close to the natural world, and yet not too far from civilisation. My travel was confined to

Jog Falls in Black and White

Jog Falls in Karnataka

November 14, 2018

Let’s face it – the internet is saturated with photos of popular tourist destinations. Especially in a country like India, where the majority of the population is young, owns a

Lights on! Vidhana Soudha on Independence Day

August 16, 2018

On the eve of Independence day, the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore was lit up. This magnificent building constructed in 1956 is in the

Mysore palace lit up on a public holiday

Mysore Palace Lit Up

Ambavilas Palace popularly known as Mysore Palace is a beautiful structure and the pride of Karnataka. On Sundays and public holidays, the Palace is lit up. A thousand incandescent bulbs

Kaup Beach Light house near Udupi

Revisiting Kaup Beach

In 2014, I posted a picture of the lighthouse in Kaup Beach. That photo went on to sell in exhibitions and got copied by other websites (without my permission of

Green water at Krishnagiri Dam backwaters

Backwaters at Krishnagiri Dam

One Saturday evening, some friends and I decided to explore Krishnagiri Dam which is located in Tamil Nadu. We set out from Bangalore after lunch and hit NH44 which goes

Milky Way in the sky with a house in the foreground

Milky Way Close to Home

Although technically the Milky Way is above us during the right seasons, we cannot see it due to weather conditions and light pollution. This year, I was lucky to see