Members of the public are invited to the Windham Public Library for a Journey to India, featuring photographs and tales from nature reserves in the interior of the country presented by Raymond resident Brien Richards from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
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| Raymond resident Brien Richards spent two weeks in March 2025 traveling through India and participating in a photo workshop in three different reserves in Central India observing and photographing wildlife including Bengal Tigers. His photos of the trip will be part of a special presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Windham Public Library. SUBMITTED PHOTOS |
The large parks are hundreds of square miles to accommodate the significant ranges of tigers, making them hard to find even in the preserved spaces.
“It took three days to find the first tiger,” Richards said. “It was very interesting to see how they move.”
The park rangers would use walkie talkies to communicate sightings and help them guide the group of photographers to the animals.
“It’s hard to get a clear shot of a tiger, as they are frequently in the bushes,” Richards said, but the group got lucky to find one animal that decided to get closer to the visitors. Guides assured the group that they would not be attacked in the open topped Jeeps that carried them throughout the reserves while the tiger approached.
“All of a sudden, the tiger got fuzzy. I put the camera down and he came right beside me” Richards added. “I could easily have put my hand out and I would have been petting him on the back. He was too close” for the 600mm lens Richards used on the excursion.
Driving between the parks also presented an opportunity to experience the more remote interior of the country.
“Driving those five hours was really the most interesting part because we were driving right in the middle of rural India, which no one ever sees,” Richards said. “You can’t believe what you’re seeing.”
Richards also spent time in Delhi and New Delhi, including hiring a local tour guide to show him the hidden corners of the cities.
“She was such a great source to ask about India,” he said. “It was really eye opening to see” the cities, adding that he will detail the sights of each during his presentation.
Richards was inspired to present the tales of his adventures by his wife, Denise, who suggested sharing his stories and photographs with the community.
“It’s nice for people in the middle of winter to get out and go to the library and listen to someone who has been somewhere that’s totally different,” he said. “I talk about what I saw and what I learned there.”
He previously presented the stories behind photographs of his 2022 trip to Antarctica at the libraries in Casco and Raymond.
“There’s a story behind every picture,” he added. “I’m trying to cut down the pictures [from India] because there are too many stories.”
Richards also said that seeing younger children in the audience gives him the chance to introduce them to traveling and the world outside of Maine.
“I like seeing young people in the audience, to try and get them enthused about different things and seeing the world and realizing that not everything is right here in Maine,” he said. “It’s great in Maine, but it’s not everything.”
Richards’ calendar is full of new adventures for the upcoming year, including trips for safaris in Botswana and Zimbabwe in June, Minnesota to photograph black bears, Moab, Utah and Monumental Valley. Colorado to view the night sky, Newfoundland to chase icebergs, and to Banff, Alberta, Canada with his family to celebrate his 80th birthday. His daughter is one of his most frequent travel partners, and the pair continue to find new places to visit.
“I get to spend time with my daughter,” he said. “She is an adventurer. She keeps me young.”
Richards says that his adventures will continue “as long as my health holds up,” and is already planning a trip to the Galapagos Island in 2027.
The library presentation offered by Richards is free and open to the public. <
Driving between the parks also presented an opportunity to experience the more remote interior of the country.
“Driving those five hours was really the most interesting part because we were driving right in the middle of rural India, which no one ever sees,” Richards said. “You can’t believe what you’re seeing.”
Richards also spent time in Delhi and New Delhi, including hiring a local tour guide to show him the hidden corners of the cities.
“She was such a great source to ask about India,” he said. “It was really eye opening to see” the cities, adding that he will detail the sights of each during his presentation.
Richards was inspired to present the tales of his adventures by his wife, Denise, who suggested sharing his stories and photographs with the community.
“It’s nice for people in the middle of winter to get out and go to the library and listen to someone who has been somewhere that’s totally different,” he said. “I talk about what I saw and what I learned there.”
He previously presented the stories behind photographs of his 2022 trip to Antarctica at the libraries in Casco and Raymond.
“There’s a story behind every picture,” he added. “I’m trying to cut down the pictures [from India] because there are too many stories.”
Richards also said that seeing younger children in the audience gives him the chance to introduce them to traveling and the world outside of Maine.
“I like seeing young people in the audience, to try and get them enthused about different things and seeing the world and realizing that not everything is right here in Maine,” he said. “It’s great in Maine, but it’s not everything.”
Richards’ calendar is full of new adventures for the upcoming year, including trips for safaris in Botswana and Zimbabwe in June, Minnesota to photograph black bears, Moab, Utah and Monumental Valley. Colorado to view the night sky, Newfoundland to chase icebergs, and to Banff, Alberta, Canada with his family to celebrate his 80th birthday. His daughter is one of his most frequent travel partners, and the pair continue to find new places to visit.
“I get to spend time with my daughter,” he said. “She is an adventurer. She keeps me young.”
Richards says that his adventures will continue “as long as my health holds up,” and is already planning a trip to the Galapagos Island in 2027.
The library presentation offered by Richards is free and open to the public. <
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