{"id":635051,"date":"2026-06-12T15:18:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/635051\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T15:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:18:14","slug":"15-year-old-photographer-wins-major-wildlife-award-for-long-eared-owl-image-shot-with-dslr-camera-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/635051\/","title":{"rendered":"15-year-old photographer wins major wildlife award for Long-eared Owl image \u2013 shot with DSLR camera gear"},"content":{"rendered":"

After scooping a Highly Commended honor in the major Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, 15-year-old Parham Pourahmad continues his award-winning rise in wildlife photography.<\/p>\n

Parham<\/a> was named the Youth winner in the prestigious Audubon Photography Awards <\/a>for an image that freezes a Long-eared Owl in mid-air, wings fully extended. The jury says the image stood out for its “rich golden hues” with the “owl and the background complementing each other magically.”<\/p>\n

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The young wildlife photographer based in Northern California shot both award-winning images exclusively with Nikon<\/a> gear. His recent success was captured with one of the best DSLRs<\/a> for beginners and a third-party lens \u2013 also found in his kitbag, the Nikon Z8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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“One of our favorite DSLRs for photography students \u2013 or for anyone who is looking for a low-cost way into serious image taking,” reveals a short insight into our Nikon D3500 review<\/a> (Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)<\/p>\n

Shot info
Species: Long-eared Owl
Location: Fremont, California, United States<\/p>\n

Tech details
Camera: Nikon D3500<\/a> + Sigma 150-600mm f\/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C<\/a>
Exposure: 1\/1000 secs, f\/6.3, ISO 1800<\/p>\n

Story behind the shot
Parham explains, “When I heard of a rare Long-eared Owl sighting at Coyote Hills Regional Park, I went to check it out. When I arrived before sunrise, I saw the owl looking for rodents in the park\u2019s grasslands and marshes.<\/p>\n

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“It hunted on and off for the next hour, giving me ample time to take photos. The sun rose, shining beautiful colors all over the marsh.<\/p>\n

“When the owl flew by, I framed it with its habitat to demonstrate the connection between the owl and its home.<\/p>\n

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“I appreciated the warm lighting and how the owl stood out despite appearing small in the frame.”<\/p>\n

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\"Sigma
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Available for Canon<\/a>\u00a0EF,\u00a0Nikon<\/a>\u00a0F FX, Sigma SA mount, the Sigma 150-600mm f\/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C packs monster reach into a fairly lightweight package (Image credit: Future)You might like…<\/p>\n

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Looking for competitions to enter? Here are 10 global photo contests now open for entries from June to December.<\/a><\/p>\n