10-year-old Arshdeep Singh from Jalandhar has won the prestigious Young Wildlife Photographer of The Year (Asia) Award 2018 for his stunning snap titled ‘Pipe Owls’. The award ceremony was held at the Natural History Museum, London, on Tuesday. Among the junior winners, there were three categories 10 years and under, 11-14 years and 15-17 years.
While driving through Punjab’s Kapurthala with father, Arshdeep saw a spotted owlet flying inside a tube. He waited patiently for the birds to peep out and then captured the winning shot.
“I often travel to Kapurthala with my father for nature photography. One such day, when I saw a ‘spotted owl’ flying inside a tube, I told my father to stop the car. He did not believe me. We waited for sometime until they came out again and without wasting a moment, I took the shot. My father was stunned,” Hindustan Times quoted the young lensman as saying.
“The owls were looking straight into my eyes. I felt like each one of them wanted to say to me- I see you,” he added.
Arshdeep started clicking photos at the age of six. He often travels with his father, Randeep Singh who is also a well-known photographer. In less than four years since he started photography, Arshdeep’s work has featured in top international photography magazines like Lonely Planet UK, Germany & India as well as BBC Wildlife UK.
