Morup Namgail
Managing director, Shan at Uley | Naturalist | Wildlife Photographer | Filmmaker
Morup Namgail is the youngest son of Tsewang Norboo and was born and raised in Uley, a tiny mountain village in West Ladakh. His connection with wildlife and the mountains began long before photography became his profession. It came simply from growing up here, among the fields, livestock, high pastures and wild animals that have always been part of life in Uley.
Morup began his education at Uley Primary School, where at the time there were only four students and one teacher. He later continued his schooling in the nearby village of Hemis Shukpachan and then in Leh. After school, he moved away from Ladakh for higher studies, first to Jammu and later to Delhi, where he formally studied photography.
Growing up as the son of one of Ladakh's best-known snow leopard spotters also had a strong influence on him. From his father and the older generation of Uley, he learned how to observe the mountains, understand animal movement and, most importantly, be patient. Much of what he knows about wildlife today comes from spending time in the field and learning from people who have lived alongside these animals for generations.
Photography eventually became his way of telling these stories. After training in Delhi, Morup worked on wildlife and documentary projects before returning to Ladakh and continuing his work as a photographer, filmmaker and field naturalist. His photography focuses mainly on Ladakh's wildlife, landscapes, people and the relationship between local communities and the natural world.
Camera trapping has become an important part of his work. It combines his understanding of animal trails and behaviour with photography, often requiring weeks or months of preparation and waiting. One of his best-known photographs, showing a wild snow leopard beneath a star-filled Himalayan sky, came from this work and received international recognition. His photographs have appeared in publications and platforms including New Scientist, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Outlook Traveller and Nature inFocus.
Morup has also worked on wildlife films and documentaries in Ladakh and other parts of India. His work has included projects such as Gyamo – Queen of the Mountains, National Geographic's Wild Cats of India, India's Wild Leopards and Into the Himalayas, along with other productions focused on Himalayan wildlife and conservation.
Today, Morup is a Director of Shan at Uley, the family-run wildlife lodge in his home village. Alongside running the lodge, he continues to spend much of his time in the field as a naturalist, photographer and filmmaker.
For him, Shan at Uley, photography and wildlife conservation are all connected. They are different ways of sharing the place he grew up in, supporting the people who live here and helping others understand why Ladakh's wild landscapes are worth protecting.
