The competition has eight categories covering everything from landscapes and wildlife to botanical and natural abstracts, and there are also categories for students and under-18s. It’s open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide, but all images must be taken in Scotland.
This year’s awarded photographers include Nicki Gwynn Jones, who took the overall title of Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year with her portrait of a fulmar in the rain. Nicki (who we featured in OP 321) has lived in Orkney for nine years and is delighted to be showcasing its beauty. She spends much of her time photographing the spectacular seabirds there, and it was on a bitterly cold December day that she captured her winning image, having ventured out hoping to see fulmars in flight in the magical Orkney winter light.
Nicki said: ‘Even though it was the middle of the day, the sun was low in the sky, not much more than 10 degrees above the horizon, and I was desperately hoping for something special in those few moments when the raking winter light was producing deep shadows and gorgeous golden tones. It began to rain. I turned around and spotted a fulmar at rest in the geo behind me, and at the same moment the sun appeared from behind the clouds, bathing the fulmar in a shower of backlit golden raindrops.’
Another awarded photographer was Adrian Metzelaar, who came top in the Land category with a stunning shot of Beinn Alligin in Wester Ross. Adrian said, ‘This morning was particularly memorable, as it started off with sleet and hail. I almost turned back, but continued up in the dark, and eventually the weather calmed. The epic view only revealed itself at the last moment, and I was jumping for joy when it did.
‘Cloud did eventually roll in, completely obscuring the view, but I was joined by another photographer, and we chatted while in the clag. Slowly the cloud started to clear, breaking up in the most dramatic and elegant way, giving depth and richness to this already unbelievable scene.’
You can catch the winners of 2024’s competition, including Adrian’s shot, at Verdant Works in Dundee until 22 February 2026.
For more details and to enter, head to scottishnaturephotographyawards.com