About Nisha Purushothaman
Nisha Purushothaman is an acclaimed wildlife photographer renowned for her captivating portraits of big cats and tender family moments. Originally from the picturesque Kerala region in India, Nisha spent years living in Dubai before relocating to beautiful British Columbia. Her photography journey began due to her love of the striking birds in her home country, and expanded into a profound passion for documenting the world of wildlife.
Nisha’s photography has garnered recognition in National Geographic and a number of prestigious international photography competitions. As part of her deep commitment to wildlife conservation, she is a co-founder of Paws Trails Magazine and is co-owner of a a sustainable safari camp in the Masai Mara, where she continues to document endangered species and their habitats.
Known for her evocative imagery and storytelling, Nisha continues to inspire others through her presentations and social media presence, aiming to foster a deeper connection between people and nature. As she evolves her career, Nisha Purushothaman remains dedicated to raising awareness about conservation issues and sharing the beauty of the natural world with a global audience.
Nisha's Early Work
Nisha Purushothaman began honing her photography skills after moving to Dubai. Under the mentorship of Arfan Asif, she began attending weekly photography sessions. Her early work focused on the captivating bird life in Dubai, as the region is home to more than 100+ avian species. In just a few years, Nisha’s work was being highlighted in National Geographic’s Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week.
During her years in Dubai, Nisha channelled her passion into conservation and travel projects. YNot Escapades was a partnership that organized small group trips to exotic locations. Participants received hands-on photography training from Nisha and other photography experts.
Shades Of Life was another project she contributed to with friends. The conservation initiative encouraged travellers to plant trees and GPS tag the sites, creating an ongoing record for others to find and share. Over the years, more than 40,000 saplings were planted via the Shades Of Life community.
Nisha was a conservation and photography speaker at events sponsored by Nikon Middle East & Africa between 2014 to 2019. She’s given two TEDx talks and hosted numerous educational webinars as well.
Current Photography & Conservation Projects
Over the years, Nisha Purushothaman has earned recognition in numerous prestigious photography competitions. Her work has been shortlisted for BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and she’s been a two-time finalist for the Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). Nisha has also been a nine-time finalist for the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Most recently, she received the Highly Honoured placement in the Nature’s Best Photography International Competition.
Beyond photography, Nisha remains deeply committed to conservation. She co-founded Paws Trails, a digital magazine that raises awareness about conservation issues. Under the Paws Trails banner, Nisha has organized photo exhibitions, workshops, and educational seminars. Sponsors for these events include Canon, the World Wildlife Federation, and Nikon. The publication has grown to include over 150 volunteers worldwide. Paws Trails boasts a track record with regular magazine editions, hundreds of photography workshops, 36 exhibitions, and over 100 photography tours.
Paws Trails Magazine
Nisha Purushothaman is co-founder of Paws Trails Magazine, a digital publication that blends a focus on wildlife photography and wildlife conservation. The magazine features photographer interviews, conservation success stories, endangered species profiles, and more.
Paws Trails Magazine accepts photography submissions and article submissions from wildlife photographers, conservationists, naturalists, and biologists. Their mission is to educate readers on topics related to conservation and photography.
Mara Trails Camp
Nisha Purushothaman is co-founder of Mara Trails Camp, an exclusive safari retreat located within the famous Masai Mara Natural Reserve. Featuring an exclusive number of tents to minimize the environmental footprint, the camp provides a front row seat to the drama of the wild.
A favourite of wildlife photographers, Mara Trails Camp offers daily game drives with experienced Maasai guides. Renowned photographers stay here when looking for an authentic safari stay inside the Masai Mara National Reserve.
