Lifestyle

Wildlife photographer Pranay Patel’s advice to his 5-year old self is nothing but inspiring. Read to know!

Published

5 years ago

December 22, 2020

When we talk about the extremely successful people, there’s one thing which is common among all. It is their willingness and ability to kick-off their career at an early age. At an age of playing with friends, there was one exception who discovered his passion for photography. Pranay Patel is the name who started his professional career as a wildlife photographer at the age of 13. In the year 2011, he made up his mind to become a wildlife photographer. An animal lover since childhood, the talented guy started clicking pictures of animals in his locality including that of dogs, cows and birds. Their movement and body functioning always left this guy in awe of nature’s most beautiful creatures after which he started capturing them through his lenses.

The Ahmedabad-based guy who has spent almost a decade in this field has now become a past master through self-learning in wildlife photography. However, the calling to become a wildlife photographer came when he visited Ranthambore National Park along with his family. Since then, the wildlife enthusiast started clicking pictures of wildlife and built a portfolio of nature and wildlife covering the exotic wildlife of India and other countries of the world including New Zealand, USA, Australia, Kenya, Africa among others. With having done more than 100 safari and sanctuary visits in the last five years, Pranay seems to cover the wildlife from all over the world.

His frequent visits have been to Gir, Tadoba, Ranthambhore, Kabini, Little Rann of Kutch, Blackbuck National Park Velavadar and Thol. However, due to the unfortunate coronavirus pandemic, there have been travel restrictions and Pranay is spending quality time with family at home. Getting his hands-on camera at a very tender age, Patel has learnt all the technicalities and is well-versed with wildlife photography now. He always says that he followed his passion and listened to his heart. With the main goal of representing India on a global level, the photographer through his beautiful clicks has shown the beauty of India’s nature and wildlife.

When asked a piece of advice he would give to his 5-year old self, Pranay came up with a very interesting reply. He said, “I would tell him to cherish the beginnings in photography. Always be a child and be more curious to know about the vast field of photography. Embrace that sense of amazement you have with the world. Click anything that interests you. This is the best time because you don’t worry about the world. Gladly, you still haven’t discovered ‘social media’ yet, which also means that you will be shooting for yourself with all focus on your passion. Make the best of time and have fun while doing that.” Through self-training, Pranay Patel has surely come a long way in his journey. With being an official photographer for Gujarat Tourism, this talented guy has got a lot to achieve in his life. Our best wishes are with Pranay and may he bring India’s wildlife on a global map in the years to come.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

3 hours ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.