A breathtaking photograph of peahens on a glorious winter morning has made it to the 60th World Wildlife Photography Awards. The dream-like shot taken by an Indian girl who is only in grade five has come runner-up in the “10 Years and Under” category.
The harmony of nature is clearly evident in the image. The bright background provides a sharp contrast to the shadowy foreground, as if offering a hopeful path amidst life’s seemingly insurmountable challenges.
“I began to learn about wildlife when I was around 2, and I picked up a camera when I was around 6,” Shreyovi, from the Indian city of Faridabad, told The Epoch Times.
“It’s the first picture I’ve ever taken till now with two subjects and with such good light.”
Shreyovi’s photograph is one of the 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories submitted to the contest. She will receive her prize on Oct. 8 in an award ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London.
‘In the Spotlight’
Shreyovi snapped the iconic photo last year when she was just 9.“While we were searching, we came across a path where the golden light and mist mixed together, which was creating shades of golden light for the trees with two peahens in the center of the road,” Shreyovi said.
Upon seeing the otherworldly scene, the young girl quickly grabbed her father’s camera. As she was lining up the shot, a blue bull or “nilgai”— the Indian antelope—appeared on the side of the road. It was a fortuitous moment, said her proud dad, since the blue bull was only present for half a second. If Shreyovi had not snapped a photo at the exact moment she did, she might not have gotten her prize-winning shot.
“The angle from where she took this image, that blue bull was quite prominent,” Mehta said. “[The] blue bull adds a lot [to the shot], standing there like an audience.”
He said other photographers were capturing the same scene, but Shreyovi’s image was different because of the wide frame.
“It’s a very moody image, and it defines a typical winter mood out here in the forest of India,” he said. “There are certain images, which are great for making large prints, and you can just hang them on the wall and keep on observing them. This is one of them.”
Shreyovi is the youngest Indian to win such an award, and her photo proudly features the peafowl, the national bird of India.
Shreyovi says she was shocked when she first learned that her photo had made it to the awards. Her prize includes a visit to the National History Museum in London, where the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will be held, showcasing 100 photographs from around the world from October 11 until June 29, 2025.
“Last year, I went to the National History Museum as a tourist, but this time, I’m going to collect an award,” she said.
Needless to say, Shreyovi has made her family proud.
“The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is like [the] Oscars of wildlife photography,” Mehta said. “So getting recognition on that platform, I think it’s going to be a big motivation and boost for her. And it’s not just about us—she has really made the entire country very proud.”
A Journey With Photography
Photography has taken Shreyovi to many places with her family. She has walked long distances to capture the perfect shot and witnessed wildlife in action.Her next goal is to visit the Himalayas with her dad and see snow leopards.
“If she manages to do it, then [she’ll] probably be the youngest Indian to see a snow leopard,” said her father.
A professional wildlife photographer, Mehta strives to teach his daughter that taking photos is secondary to appreciating the great outdoors.
“I keep taking her out in the field with me whenever it’s possible for her,“ he said. ”My idea is that she should just observe nature from close quarters. She should learn to respect nature, learn to respect wildlife, and photography will automatically happen.”
Talented Shreyovi has some tips of her own when asked about her advice for other children with big dreams:
“Like I pursue my hobby of photography,” she said, “they should pursue [their] hobby with their whole heart.”
