(May 2, 2026) Shreyovi Mehta feels at home in the jungles of India. Living in the wilderness brings out the best in her — and at just 10, she achieved a global milestone in 2024, becoming the runner-up at the prestigious 60th Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition by the Natural History Museum, London.
She was a two-year-old baby when she saw three tigers for the first time at Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. Thereafter, jungles became her playground, as she spent considerable time at national parks across the country, accompanying her father, Shivang Mehta, one of India’s leading wildlife photographers.
This early exposure to forests, wildlife and photography naturally drew her towards the camera. She soon began capturing wildlife at its best. “I love the search, the waits and the adventure of forests,” smiles Shreyovi, in a chat with The Global Indian.
As a young photographer, she already has an impressive record. Shreyovi was recognised as “Highly Commended (Under 10)” — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, twice, and was “1st Classified” (Under 20) at the Siena International Awards, Italy 2025.
The highlight was being declared the Runner-Up (Under 10) — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 by the Natural History Museum, London, often touted as the “Oscars of Photography.”
View this post on Instagram
In the spotlight
Shreyovi’s photograph “In the Spotlight,” featuring two peahens at Keoladeo National Park, was selected from nearly 60,000 entries in the “10 Years and Under” category. In 2024, she accompanied her father to Bharatpur. “I love Keoladeo National Park. I went there for the first time when I was a four-year-old.”
Renowned for its birdlife, Keoladeo National Park attracts large numbers of water birds in winter. Peafowl are year-round residents that roost in large trees. They rest in the shade during the day and are more active in open areas at dawn and dusk.
A walk that changed it all
During a morning walk, her father was casually talking about how beautifully the track was lit up, as the soft morning light illuminated the forest floor.
“Suddenly, two peahens walked onto the path and I went down to eye level and composed the frame. As I was doing that, a nilgai also came out in curiosity,” smiles the young photographer, who captured the image instantly.
Through her lens
Shreyovi’s father and his friend also shot the image, but since she clicked it using a 100–400mm lens, her shots were wider in composition, which made the photo stand out from the rest.
“Since I am still small, my father had given me that particular lens. Everyone was highly impressed with my photograph. It took me some time to realise I had taken a good picture.”
Off to London
Shreyovi says she did not shoot the picture with any award in mind. “My father submitted it to the WPY competition, and for the longest time I didn’t even know I had won,” says the young photographer.
She travelled to London and received the award at a glittering ceremony in October 2024. “My work is featured in the Natural History Museum’s exhibition,” says Shreyovi, beaming with pride.
In the 2025 edition of the competition, Shreyovi received honours for two wildlife photos. One captured a Sarus crane reacting near a water pump, while another showed birds in a dramatic wetland moment.
A full-circle moment
Interestingly, she had visited the Natural History Museum in London along with her mother a year prior to winning the award. “I visited as a tourist and the following year as a winner. I’m glad to have represented India on a global stage.”
Special moments
“Spending time with some of the world’s best photographers, the museum, the exhibition, and the invite to 10 Downing Street — everything and everyone was so special,” says Shreyovi, who thanks her school and well-wishers for being pillars of support during her journey.
View this post on Instagram
A world through the viewfinder
Born in 2014, in Faridabad, Haryana, Shreyovi was surrounded by cameras from the time she was a baby. “One day I picked up a mirrorless camera and looked through the viewfinder, and the world looked so amazing,” says the seventh-grade student of Shiv Nadar School in Faridabad.
While her father, Shivang Mehta, is one of India’s leading wildlife photographers who has spent more than 20 years in the field, her mother runs a wildlife destination management company called Nature Wanderers.
The wild as a classroom
Over the years, Shreyovi has visited Jim Corbett, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Ranthambore, Pench, Satpura, Panna, and even Masai Mara in southwestern Kenya, a wildlife haven famous for its high density of big cats — lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the annual Great Wildebeest Migration.
“I like the discipline of getting up early, sleeping early — everything is so regulated,” says Shreyovi, who spends 30 to 40 days a year in the wild on safaris and expeditions.
She has great memories from Bandhavgarh, where she saw young tiger cubs for the first time.
The learning curve
Her father runs a place called Jamoon near Jim Corbett. “I had 10 days of Jamoon adventure, during which I walked in the forest all the time — it was great fun,” says Shreyovi, recalling the days when her father took her along for some of his projects.
Slowly, she started learning the basics of photography. “I am still learning. But camera or no camera, jungle life is always amazing, and I love spending time outdoors.”
The gear and the dream
Shreyovi says her father owns several cameras and is a brand ambassador for Sony. “So I use his gear. I hope one day I will earn money from photography and buy my own Sony gear,” smiles the young photographer, who currently uses a Sony A7R4 and Sony 200–600, and occasionally a Sony 100–400.
“My Sarus image, which won at the Natural History Museum WPY last year, was shot with a 400mm 2.8 — I was tripod-mounted at that time.”
Like father, like daughter
Does Shreyovi aim to become a professional photographer in the future? “As of now, I just want to enjoy my field time. Because of academic pressures, I will have to balance things. I do want to try other forms of photography like macro, so that I can overcome my fear of creepy crawlies.”
She is also looking forward to tougher adventures, like spotting snow leopards. “I would love to become like dad, as I see the effort he puts in tough terrains. I will continue shooting.”
Beyond the wild
Shreyovi loves to play soccer in her free time. She also has a deep interest in listening to music with a classical base. “I had learnt classical music for a year but couldn’t continue because of my varied interests — soccer and photography.”
A Harry Potter fan
She loves to read books as well. “The Harry Potter series remains my favourite. My father gets me some wildlife books, and I like going through them as well,” says Shreyovi, who is fond of war-based movies and listens to music on her iPad whenever she is permitted to use the gadget.
- Follow Shreyovi Mehta on Instagram
