Accredited Sports and Action Photographer from Delhi, India

Photography in New Delhi

Sports & Wildlife Photography in Delhi – Exploring Action, Culture & Nature Through the Lens

Delhi has been one of the most important cities in my journey as a sports photographer in India. Being the capital city, Delhi offers access to an incredible mix of sporting venues, historic landmarks, indoor stadiums, wildlife zones, and cultural spaces, making it one of the best places for photographers looking to build both experience and portfolio diversity.

Over the years, I have photographed multiple sports and events across Delhi while also exploring wildlife and portrait photography in some of the city’s most iconic locations.

Sports Photography in Delhi

Delhi is a hub for sporting activity, ranging from grassroots tournaments to professional competitions. As a sports photographer in Delhi, I have covered a wide variety of sports including chess, cricket, athletics, basketball, tennis, polo, and wrestling.

One of my recent assignments included photographing a chess tournament at SRCC in May 2026. Chess photography taught me the importance of silence, patience, and observation. Unlike fast-paced sports, chess requires photographers to anticipate emotions and reactions rather than physical movement.

I have also covered cricket at the Jamia Millia Islamia Ground, a venue associated with the early training days of Virender Sehwag. Cricket photography in Delhi helped me improve my anticipation and timing, especially when working with changing daylight conditions throughout long matches.

Athletics photography at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium gave me the opportunity to work in a professional stadium environment with accreditation and field access. Events like sprint finishes and jumps strengthened my understanding of positioning and decisive timing.

Indoor sports have been equally challenging. While covering the Harish Sharma basketball tournament, I had to work under difficult lighting conditions where shutter speed, ISO management, and autofocus precision became extremely important.

I have also photographed tennis at DLTA after coordinating with organizers and players. Tennis photography reinforced how important etiquette is within the sport, especially regarding movement restrictions during active points.

Apart from mainstream sports, I photographed wrestling at the historic Guru Hanuman Akhada and local dangals around Delhi. Wrestling photography is highly emotion-driven and requires close storytelling to capture intensity and physicality.

Tennis player caught mid‑action during ITF W35 Women’s International Tennis Tournament in Delhi, India — dynamic sports photography by Jithin Thomas, Delhi‑based professional action and sports photographer, captured with Nikon D850 DSLR showcasing athletic intensity, competitive women’s tennis, and high‑end tournament imagery

Tennis Player Caught in Action During the ITF W35 Women's International Tennis Tournament

Polo & Equestrian Photography in Delhi

Delhi also exposed me to polo and equestrian photography through events held at the Jaipur Polo Ground and Army equestrian centers.

Polo photography is visually unique because it combines speed, athleticism, horses, and large open playing fields. Capturing these moments requires long-lens tracking, anticipation, and quick framing adjustments.

Working around professional polo players also helped me understand how to maintain professional boundaries and work effectively alongside other photographers in high-pressure environments.

Polo players Siddanth and Pratap in an intense ride‑off during competitive polo match in Delhi, India — dynamic equestrian sports photography by Jithin Thomas, Delhi‑based professional action and sports photographer, captured with Nikon D850 DSLR showcasing speed, rivalry, and high‑end polo imagery

Polo Players Siddanth and Pratap in an Intese Rideoff during a Polo Match

Wildlife Photography in Delhi

While Delhi is known for sports and urban culture, it also offers surprisingly strong opportunities for wildlife photography.

I have explored wildlife photography in locations such as:

Sundar Nursery
Aravalli Biodiversity Parks
Other green zones around Delhi

Wildlife photography significantly improved my reflexes, focusing speed, patience, and understanding of subject behavior. Photographing birds and small moving subjects helped sharpen skills that later became extremely useful in sports photography.

The Aravalli Biodiversity Parks are particularly interesting for photographers because guided tours can sometimes be arranged through forest officials. However, timing becomes important because many guided tours are typically available later in the morning, by which time wildlife activity may already reduce significantly.

Mama and baby peafowl posing gracefully in unison at Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India — wildlife and nature photography by Jithin Thomas, Delhi‑based professional action and sports photographer, captured with Nikon D850 DSLR showcasing Indian birdlife heritage, maternal bond, and high‑end peafowl imagery.

Mama and Baby Peafowl posing a a perfect picture in unison at the Sunder Nusery

Portrait & Lifestyle Photography in Delhi

Apart from sports and wildlife, Delhi also offers beautiful spaces for portrait and lifestyle photography.

I have done portrait photography for family members and personal projects at:

Sundar Nursery
Safdarjung Tomb
Lodhi Garden

These locations are visually rich because of their combination of Mughal architecture, greenery, textures, and natural light. Early mornings and late evenings usually provide the best lighting conditions for portraits.

However, photographers should also be aware of restrictions in some heritage locations. Certain venues require entry fees, and equipment such as tripods or monopods may not always be permitted inside. While these restrictions can sometimes be limiting, they also help reduce overcrowding, making the locations more manageable for photography.

Technical Learning Through Photography in Delhi

Delhi’s diverse environments helped me develop both technically and creatively as a photographer.

Over time, I learned:

How to adapt to rapidly changing lighting conditions
How aperture affects depth of field and subject isolation
How to shoot effectively even with lens limitations
When flash usage is appropriate and when it is restricted
How to work professionally around players, organizers, and fellow photographers

I started my journey with the Nikon D3500 before eventually upgrading to the Nikon D850, which significantly improved my low-light performance, autofocus reliability, and overall image quality.

I also discovered that flexible tools like bean bags can sometimes be more practical than tripods or monopods in fast-moving sports environments.

Storytelling Through Sports Photography

Today, my photography style focuses strongly on storytelling and emotion.

Rather than only capturing action, I aim to document:

Player emotions
Crowd reactions
Quiet moments of concentration
Close-up storytelling details
Environmental context around the sport

I have also started experimenting more with:

Panning photography
Slow shutter techniques
Sports videography
Reel creation for athletes and events

These creative techniques help create more immersive visual stories rather than isolated action frames.

Why Delhi is Ideal for Sports Photography

Delhi remains one of the best cities in India for photographers looking to explore sports photography seriously. The city provides access to:

Professional stadiums
Grassroots tournaments
Diverse sporting disciplines
Heritage venues
Wildlife zones
Networking opportunities with athletes and organizers

At the same time, building a sustainable career in sports photography requires consistency, adaptability, technical understanding, and long-term relationship building.

For me, Delhi continues to be a city of learning, experimentation, and growth—both as a sports photographer and as a visual storyteller.

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