Jalandhar boy wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for his ''Pipe Owls''

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, October 18

Ten-year-old Arshdeep Singh has won Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for his picture 'Pipe Owls' in the 10-year-and-under age category at Natural History Museum, London. 

Arshdeep who hails from Jalandhar said he shot the picture in Kapurthala. 

"I would like to thank my family because without their support this wasn't really possible. Thank you for motivating and supporting me. Special thanks to my grandparents, parents and my sister," Arshdeep said in a Facebook post.

Arshdeep would like to become a wildlife photographer and help with conservation. He started taking photos at the age of six and has already had pictures published in magazines and newspapers in India and abroad, says National History Museum website.

Driving with his father through Kapurthala one day, Arshdeep saw an owlet disappearing into an old pipe. Asking to stop the car, he took out his father's camera and telephoto lens, resting it on half-open window.

Soon the spotted owlet emerged, followed by the second one. It was then that Arshdeep captured the moment with the birds staring right at him.

Spotted owlets are common in Punjab, but these birds are rarely seen in the day as they are noctural.