Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2024

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May 18, 2025

Pembrokeshire in spring // Sir Benfro yn y gwanwyn

May 17, 2025

1 April 2025

Nicki Gwynn-Jones The fulmar is perched on a grassy ledge in a golden light. There are raindrops turned golden by sunlight. — Nicki Gwynn-Jones’ Fulmar with Golden Raindrops won the awards’ top prize. Nicki captured the scene at Longaglebe Geo in Orkney.

The 15th annual Scottish Nature Photography Awards winners have been announced.

Nicki Gwynn-Jones, who lives in Orkney, won the main prize with a picture of a fulmar in a rain shower on a cold December day.

She said it was the middle of the day and the sun was low in the sky.

“I was desperately hoping for something special in those few moments when the raking winter light was producing deep shadows and gorgeous golden tones,” said Nicki.

Kiran Simpson won the junior Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year award with this picture called Feathers and Ripples.

Kiran Simpson The robin has its wings spread as it rises from water, leaving ripples across the surface. — Kiran Simpson won the junior Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year award with this picture called Feathers and Ripples.

Callum McKenzie’s photograph called Puffin Protest was part of a portfolio that won him the student prize.

Callum McKenzie The puffin on the left has its beak open as if shouting at the puffin opposite it. The birds' beaks are brightly coloured - red, blue and yellow. They are sitting on a grassy cliff top, the blue sea in the background. — Callum McKenzie’s photograph called Puffin Protest was part of a portfolio that won him the student prize.

Douglas Bruce won the sea landscape category with Evening Light, which was taken at Luskentyre, Harris.

Douglas Bruce A large area of sand stretches towards a silvery-blue sea. Evening light illuminates a line of sand. — Douglas Bruce won the sea landscape category with Evening Light, which was taken at Luskentyre, Harris.

The urban prize was awarded to Anthony Robson’s Paved Paradise, Put Up a Parking Lot – lyrics in Joni Mitchell’s song Big Yellow Taxi. The picture was taken in Edinburgh.

Anthony Robson The image has been taken from inside a concrete building, which has an open space that lets natural light down into the space below. — The urban prize was awarded to Anthony Robson’s Paved Paradise, Put Up a Parking Lot – lyrics in Joni Mitchell’s song Big Yellow Taxi. The picture was taken in Edinburgh.

The botanical award went to James Lynott, whose picture was called Fifeness Shallow Seaweeds.

James Lynott Long lengths of seaweed swaying underwater. Light from above makes the water appear light blue in colour. — The botanical award went to James Lynott, whose picture was called Fifeness Shallow Seaweeds.

Brian Nicholson’s study of the surface of a frozen Gladhouse Reservoir in Midlothian won the natural abstract category.

Brian Nicholson Bubbles on the frozen surface of the loch appears as white circles. There is some green algae in the frozen ice. — Brian Nicholson’s study of the surface of a frozen Gladhouse Reservoir in Midlothian won the natural abstract category.

Edinburgh filmmaker Richard Nicholls won the video award with a short film called 19th July 2022, which looked at climate change and Scotland.

He was filming in Edinburgh on Scotland’s hottest day when the unusually high temperature spurred him into embarking on a project on the climate crisis.