By News Karnataka
Udupi: At just 14, Vidyun R Hebbar, originally from Udupi and now a 9th-grade student in Bengaluru, has already carved out a name for himself on the global stage through his remarkable macro wildlife photography. Specializing in photographing insects and spiders, Vidyun鈥檚 sharp eye reveals the overlooked beauty of nature鈥檚 smallest creatures.
Vidyun鈥檚 photographic journey began when he was just three years old, influenced by his father Ravi Prakash S S, an IT professional and passionate wildlife photographer. By the age of six, he was already handling a camera seriously. His mother, Namitha T, a librarian, has been a constant source of encouragement.
Largely self-trained, Vidyun mastered the art of macro photography by watching his father and spending hours exploring gardens in Bengaluru and forests near his ancestral home in Sringeri, Western Ghats.
In 2021, he won the Grand Title of Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year from the Natural History Museum, London, for a striking photo of a spider web set against an urban backdrop. Though he missed the award ceremony due to COVID-19, he was later invited to the event鈥檚 60th anniversary and visited 10 Downing Street.
His other achievements include:
Highly Commended Winner (2020, 2021)
An enthusiast of drone technology, Vidyun builds and flies custom models and is now delving into drone videography.
He aims to become a wildlife filmmaker, educating others about the importance of nature and the role of even the tiniest life forms.