How 9-Year-Old Shreyovi Mehta Became The Youngest Winner At BBC's Photographer Of The Year Awards

One misty winter morning, nine-year-old Shreyovi Mehta was out exploring the quiet trails with her parents at the Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan. Suddenly, in the distance, two Indian peafowls emerged. Shreyovi's father was carrying the camera. So she ran to him to retrieve it and scrunched down for a low-angle shot of the birds, framing them against the soft, foggy backdrop. This surreal composition of the birds in the glowing light of dawn made the 'in the spotlight' category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards.

Known as the 'Oscars of Wildlife Photography', the awards hosted by BBC receives over fifty thousand entries by photographers from 95 countries over the world. Shreyovi was the youngest among them, bagging the runner up title in the '10 Years and Under 'category of the competition. Tomorrow, she will be honored among the world's leading wildlife photographers at the grand award ceremony in London. Before that, her award-winning photograph will be showcased at the media preview of the prestigious exhibition at the Natural History Museum, where she will also represent young photographers at an exclusive press preview.

Keoladeo National Park, where Shreyovi took the photograph, is a renowned bird sanctuary in Rajasthan, sheltering over 350 species of birds. The park’s lush ecosystem and vast wetlands make it a paradise for wildlife photographers. The peafowls, often seen roosting in the park’s trees, are known for their jewel-toned plumage and mesmerizing courtship displays. Unfortunately, their population has been declining due to habitat changes and the illegal trade of their prized feathers, which adds an important narrative of a call for preservation to Shreyovi's photograph.

Shreyovi’s journey into photography began when she was just two years old, innocently picking up the camera that belonged to her father, Dr Anish Andheria, a renowned wildlife conservationist. Over the years, surrounded by photographers and conservationists who are family friends, her love for wildlife photography naturally grew. With the support of her parents and school, Shreyovi balanced her studies with her adventures in the wild, traveling to nearly ten national parks across India and even one in Kenya by the time she was four.

The award-winning photograph was a culmination of this nurtured fascination with the wild and a keen eye for the perfect moment. Passion, instincts and patience were also some virtues displayed by the young one that even trained photographers constantly strive to develop. This is, however, just the beginning for Shreyovi.

Follow her here to tag along on her journey.

If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:

Your Favourite Artist's Favourite Artist: Indian Musicians Pick Their Most-Loved Album

The Big Blue Beyond: In Conversation With Homegrown Underwater Photographer Ajit SN

Portraits Of Youth: 5 Homegrown Photographers Documenting The Many Faces Of Young India