‘In the spotlight’: 9-year old Indian Shreyovi Mehta named runner-up in London wildlife photography contest | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Nine-year-old Shreyovi Mehta has earned a place in the 60th edition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, organized by the Natural History Museum (NHM). Mehta was named the runner-up in the ’10 Years and Under’ category for her photograph titled “In the Spotlight,” which features two peahens silhouetted under a canopy of trees at Keoladev National Park in Bharatpur, India.
The photograph was selected from nearly 60,000 entries submitted by participants of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories.
“I am glad that my image of our national bird has been given recognition by Natural History Museum at the biggest stage of wildlife photography. I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal – the tiger gets the same recognition,” Mehta told news agency PTI.
In a Instagram post, the young photographer also expressed her disbelief and joy over the recognition. “I can’t believe I am being awarded by the @nhm_wpy at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 in the Under 10 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year category,” said Mehta.
She then went on to express gratitude to her family for their support and said, “Thank you to Mom and Dad. My parents have always supported me in chasing my dreams, even when they seemed too big for a kid like me. Your love and encouragement have been my greatest strength.”
Then, promising to keep pursuing her passion of photography she said, “I am so proud to represent my Bharat on this global stage. India’s rich wildlife and heritage has been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of it to you.”
“Last but not the least, to all the parents out there, thank you for encouraging your daughters to explore their dreams. It’s the best gift you can give us. Because when you let us dream big, there’s no limit to what we can achieve! This is just the beginning! I will keep learning, improving, and striving to do even better. The journey continues, and I’m excited for what’s next! That’s Shreyovi’s promise. Thank you, everyone, for your support! Let’s keep celebrating the beauty of our planet together!,” she added in her social media post while also thanking her photography teachers and uncle.

A class five student from Faridabad, Shreyovi Mehta will receive a medal at an award ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London on October 8.
Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel, praised the diversity and depth represented in the competition entries. “In this selection you see species diversity, a range of behavior and conservation issues. These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world – the beauty and the challenges,” she said in a statement.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will open at the NHM on October 11 and will run until June 29, 2025.