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

A 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. 

These are the amazing scenes as drone operator Lior Patel filmed a large flock of sheep were taken between their winter to summer grazing area 

Mr Patel set his drone above the flock allowing it to pass underneath. He spent between four and seven minutes above the flock for each clip before it is sped up in post production

The sheep were moved by the shepherds for the summer to an area where they have better access to water and more shelter

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 a number of months, showed the flock crossing roadways with 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. 

Mr Patel said he was amazed by the patterns used by the sheep as they were herded from one field to the next 

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.