If there is a tourist pressure, and the ‘show’ continues for a long period, elephants get tired and are allowed to rest in the afternoon. One can then take long drive inside the reserve and many times we have taken good tiger pictures from a jeep. Photography from a moving vehicle is hardly ever satisfactory; it is advisable to stop the vehicle and switch off the engine.
            Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve not very long time ago was a paradise for wildlife photographers keen to photograph tiger. We first visited the reserve on March 16, 1987, and stayed in the picturesque Jogi Mahal, overlooking the Padam Talao (the lotus lake). Fateh Singh Rathore was then the Director of the park. We could photograph nine tigers in a single day during our short stay there. They completely ignored us and went about their daily chores confidently. But within a couple of years, organized poaching took a heavy toll of tigers and their population decreased drastically. Strict precautions were taken and the tiger population is steadily increasing. On our last visit in January 2000, we saw many tigers and photographed a tigress and her three 9-month-old cubs showing affection to each other and playing. Ranthambhore is again a good reserve for tiger photography where tigers can be seen in their normal pursuit such as stalking, hunting or taking care of their young. According to the latest census, the population of tigers in the park is 32, higher than the 26 in 2005. The tiger population  was 84 in 1984.

In Ranthambhore park elephants are not available, and one has to take one’s chance in a jeep which can be hired. Due to heavy vehicle pressure inside the park and limited routes being available, the management allots a particular route to a vehicle and free movement is not allowed. One has to be somewhat lucky to find a tiger during the ride.

Generally late March or early April is a good period for tiger photography. Due to water scarcity and heat, there is better opportunity to find tiger around the few waterholes or pools in the nullahs. The undergrowth is also dry giving better visibility. The background, however, may be barren and not green. Once it rains there are pools of water even in the hilly areas and tiger need not come down to drink, especially when it is with a kill.