B-ewe-tiful! Drone photographer's timelapse footage turns a flock of sheep into a moving work of art

Drone pilot Lior Patel, 42, from Haifa, Israel filmed the flock of sheep over the course of seven months
He sent his drone up above the flock in Peace Valley, Yokneam in Northern Israel for different shots
Mr Patel kept his drone still for several minutes for each clip before linking them and speeding them upA drone photographer has followed the movements of a flock of sheep over seven months to produce a mesmerising timelapse video.
Lior Patel, 42, filmed the stunning footage in the Peace Valley, Yokneam, northern Israel.
Mr Patel followed the flock - which ranged in size between 1,000 and 1,750 - as they were shepherded between their winter and summer pasture.
The resulting aerial footage shows the sheep dispersing and coming together in a series of formations that resemble the murmurations created by starlings in flight.
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Drone photographer Lior Patel captured the patterns formed by a large flock of sheep as they moved between grazing areas in the Peace Valley, Yokneam, northern Israel
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Mr Patel held his drone above the flock for between four and seven minutes for most of the clips and sped up the footage in post-production
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The aerial footage shows the sheep dispersing and coming together in formations that resemble starling murmurations
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The sheep were moved by the shepherds for the summer to an area where they have better access to water and more shelter
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When it gets too hot, the sheep can shelter under the canopies, pictured, while they also have access to water
The flock belongs to Keith Markov and Michael Morgan who have been farming the area since 1985, with the help of their shepherds Musafa Tabash and Mahmoud Kaabiyah.
Mr Patel used a timelapse setting on his drone to film the flock to show the intricate patterns the sheep used as they are herded from one field to another. The clips, which were filmed over the course of seven months, showed the flock crossing fields and following roadways with the shepherds preventing them from making their escape.
The shepherds on the ground skilfully use their collie to keep the sheep moving in the right direction.
In one section, the sheep can be seen approaching from two sides before gathering around a feeding trough.
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Mr Patel said he was amazed by the patterns used by the sheep as they were herded from one field to the next
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In one section, the sheep can be seen approaching from two sides before gathering around a feeding trough
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Mr Patel said he wanted to the extent of the sheep's movement by speeding up the footage in post production
Once the first sheep make a move the rest of the flock follows quickly behind so it is vital the shepherds ensure they are going the correct direction.
According to Mr Patel: 'I was really addicted to the impressive movement of the sheep and realized that the first challenge is to understand the elasticity of the herd during the movement, its dispersal during grazing and how it converges into one tight pack towards exit / return from pasture and crossing roads and paths.
'Mustafa and his family, with the help of the herding dogs, manage the herd movement in an exemplary and fascinating way.
'The transition from winter pasture to summer pasture stems from the need to supplement the herd's diet in the absence of green grass during the dry season and hot months and to provide them with adequate shelter during the summer, so the entire herd relocates in impressive movement along 5-7 kilometers from the peace Valley to the outskirts of Ramot Menashe.'
In most shots, Mr Patel sent his drone up and kept it relatively still in the air for between four and seven minutes while the flock passed underneath.
Mr Patel, from Haifa, said he sped up the footage in post production in a bid to highlight the complicated patterns created by sheep.