We recently had the chance to connect with Shiva Mehta and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Shiva, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
The moment I have a camera in hand and I’m in nature and surrounded by wildlife, I completely lose track of time. Waiting quietly for an animal to appear, or watching the way the light shifts across a landscape, I feel completely absorbed and completely free. Photography brings me back to myself- it’s where my creativity, my love for animals and my sense of wonder all meet. In those moments, I’m not chasing time, I’m simply present.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a dentist by vocation, but my journey into photography began in my twenties as a creative and therapeutic outlet. Over time, I explored many forms of photography—from newborn and family portraiture to pets—but my deepest passion has always been the natural world. Wildlife photography became the truest expression of that calling and during the pandemic, I immersed myself in photographing native British wildlife.
My family heritage gave me the privilege of traveling to Tanzania and Kenya as a child, planting early seeds of connection with Africa’s wild landscapes. In the summer of 2022, more than two decades later, I returned with a new purpose: to experience and document African wildlife, and to see first-hand the conservation efforts of organisations I had long supported.
That journey was transformative. I visited my foster elephant, Long’uro, at Reteti, an indigenous owned and run elephant sanctuary, volunteered at Ol Pejeta Conservancy—home to the last two remaining Northern White Rhinos—and witnessed the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara. I came home changed, inspired, and determined to use my camera as a tool for conservation.
Through my photography, I aim to raise awareness of the challenges facing wildlife, inspire people to take even the smallest steps to protect our natural world, and share stories of hope through conservation initiatives. I believe that hope—rooted in our compassionate connection with nature—is vital for ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving planet.
By bringing the beauty of the wild into our homes, I hope to connect people across borders with the richness of our natural world. Every artwork purchased contributes directly to conservation, with 20% of profits donated to organisations on the frontlines of protecting endangered species.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative child with an endless love for animals and the natural world- reinforced by my early opportunity of travel to East Africa because of my family roots. Whether at home or away, nature is where I felt most at ease. I would spend hours watching David Attenborough’s wildlife documentaries, watching birds, squirrels and the occasional fox in the garden or reading about animals in books- sketching, imagining, and creating stories around them.
That quiet connection with the natural world felt like my truest self. A more traditional pathway through education led me into healthcare, but my heart never stopped being drawn to animals and wild spaces. Photography became a bridge back to original self- it gave me a way to blend creativity with care, to honour that childhood wonder and to celebrate the deep kinship I’ve always felt with nature.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me things that success never could- that strength isn’t about control, it’s about surrender. As an empath, I feel deeply because I care deeply and at times, that has been overwhelming. But it’s also been my greatest teacher. Pain has shown me that I can’t control, carry or fix everything, no matter how much I wish I could. Instead I’ve learnt ( and am still learning) to release what isn’t mine to hold and to find meaning in the lessons each experience brings in life.
Success often celebrates outcomes, but suffering teaches patience, humility and resilience. It reminds me that growth does not come from perfection, but from how we rise after being broken open. In that space of vulnerability, I’ve discovered the quiet power of compassion- for others and for myself.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief I’m deeply committed to is that we can only protect what we learn to see, value and are connected to. Through my photography, I want to create a bridge between people and the natural world- to help them feel the same awe, respect and tenderness I’ve always felt for animals and wild spaces.
No matter how long it takes, I’m committed to use creativity to nurture empathy towards the natural world and to inspire a sense of responsibility for its future. Whether it’s through a single image that stirs curiosity or advocacy for a long-term project that documents conservation efforts, I believe every story shared brings us a step closer to connection and care. This isn’t just a project- it’s a life long calling to stand for the wild and to keep reminding others that we are part of it, not apart from it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What false labels are you still carrying?
One false label I’ve carried is that caring too much makes you weak. I now know the opposite is true- my empathy is my greatest strength. It’s what allows me to see deeply, to connect with people, animals and the natural world in ways that go beyond the surface.
Another false label was that success has to look a certain way, often tied to conventional paths and expectations. But I’ve learned that real success is living in alignment with who you truly are. Through photography, I’ve been able to reclaim my creativity and my voice, and to show that passion and purpose can be just as powerful as tradition.
Shedding those labels have been freeing- it’s allowed me to define myself not by what others expect, but by what values I choose; compassion, creativity and connection with the wild.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shivawildlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiva_wildlife/
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