Snake-obsessed Photographer Snaps Portraits Of Deadly Creatures

Nilanjan Mukherjee, 24, is an amateur photographer and nature enthusiast from Kolkata in West Bengal, India.

As a young boy Nilanjan had a fondness for the slimy reptiles and vowed to change the perception of them.

He is adamant that even cobras and vipers are not animals to be afraid of.

Since childhood he has been interested in reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fish species.

Nilanjan photographs the juvenile reptiles to make people aware that even these feared and misunderstood creatures can be delicate and beautiful.

"I have been documenting wildlife and biodiversity, especially around urban and suburban areas for the past five years in order to increase awareness," said Nilanjan.

He uses a field studio method to photograph these reptiles - and his aim is to highlight his subjects without any distractions.

For this, he carries a light box and acrylic sheets whenever he is looking for snakes and lizards.

He hopes his pictures will be able to change people’s minds about the slithery critters.

He added: "Photographing baby reptiles came to my mind when I first found a little Buff striped keel-back snake in my backyard.

“It was really small and beautiful.”