The journey of Shreyovi Mehta, a 9 year-old runner-up in the "BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year"

Shreyovi Mehta, a 9-year-old girl from Faridabad represented India at the global level when she was named the runner-up in BBC’s “Wildlife Photographer of the Year 10 Years and Under category.” This feat is no joke as this award is one of the most decorated grants for a photographer and is considered the "Oscars of Photography." Last year her mother Kahini, the co-founder of Nature Wanderers - one of India’s leading wildlife destination management companies- took her to the Natural History Museum in London, an organisation by which this award is hosted. On their visit, she told her that every wildlife photographer including her father Shivang Mehta, who is also a well-known wildlife photographer dreams of representing India in this forum. “Now that I have won the award I know what it means to represent one’s country on such a big platform,” states a happy and elated Shreyovi.

The journey of Shreyovi winning this award started at the tender age of 2 when she picked up her father's camera. An innocent child would not know what wonders she could do with this equipment that she was holding. Only seven years later, during a morning stroll in the forests of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, with her father and his friend Dr. Anish Andheria, President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust and a photographer himself, she captured a photograph that worked wonders. As they were walking in the Keoladeo National Park, the early morning sun illuminated the forest track in front of them shedding light on two beautiful pehens facing their back towards each other. “Shreyovi grabbed Shivang’s secondary camera body and went low on the ground framing this image and while she was shooting a Nilgai also walked in the frame," said Shreyovi’s mom in an interview with Local Samosa. Her perspective impressed the field staff, including her father. 

The parents wanting to put her work out in the competitive space, decided to nominate this photograph titled “In the Spotlight,” which shows a silhouette of two peahens between a canopy of trees in the BBC photography contest. After competing with numerous photographs by participants from various countries and territories and going through a number of stringent evaluation rounds by the panel, the 9-year-old’s piece impressed the jury. And Shreyovi was impressed with her parents and their love for wildlife at a young age when she went on an expedition with them. After that, she decided to travel with them to different destinations. She has been to nearly 10 national parks in India and also accompanied her parents to Kenya’s Masai Mara when she was just 4. 

Over the years, surrounded by leading photographers from the country and forest conservationists who were all friends of Shivang and Kahini, Mehta’s love for photography grew. “Initially, Shivang gave her a helping hand in photography and I used to tell her about various forests to acquaint her with the skills but we never forced her to hold the camera. That came naturally to her as she loves being on the field and capturing moments,” says her mother. 

Her mother further adds that at a stage in her life where she is still studying, it has been difficult for her to manage her studies and photography but her school Shiv Nadar has been very supportive in her journey. At this age, this girl has been on night safaris sighting tigers, clicking pictures in the forests and understanding the importance of natural resources and conservation. This makes it an achievement in itself with recognitions like these showing her dedication and determination in a field that requires a lot of experience, patience and practice.