Scottish nature photography award winners as 'beautiful' snap takes home top prize
The winners of this year's Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year Awards have been revealed, and the incredible images that won the top prizes need to be seen to be believed.
The best nature photographs taken in Scotland over the past year have been crowned at a prestigious award ceremony.
The winners of the Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 Awards have been revealed, and entries from all over the country took home prizes. The awards, which celebrate nature, wildlife, and landscape photography in Scotland, were created in 2010 to provide a platform to celebrate the country as a key destination for nature photographers.
Edinburgh-based photographer Charles Everitt took home the top Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year prize at this year's awards for his image, titled Lily of the Valley. The stunning photo, which depicts a lone white flower set amidst a hazy backdrop of green grass, also won the Scottish Botanical category.
It marks the second time Everitt has been awarded the top prize He was previously named Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year in 2020.
Everitt commented: "I was absolutely delighted and incredibly honoured to win both the Scottish Botanical Category and the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2023 competition, and I would like to thank the judges for picking my image. The contest remains Scotland’s premier nature photography competition, and to win it for a second time is a true privilege."
Commenting on the photo, Judge Espen Helland said: "This is a beautifully made image where the framing of the flower has been carefully considered. The blurred-out foreground leads the eye directly to the drooping flower, which is also carefully placed in front of the slightly brighter green background. The brightness of the background and the hint of texture of life in the undergrowth also helped draw me right into this image."
Elsewhere, Junior Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year was awarded to 12-year-old Gabriela Hamza of Peebles. Her image, titled Odd One Out, shows a single red poppy surrounded by a group of yellow flowers.
Speaking about Hamza's win, judge Eilidh Cameron stated: "It was a tough decision to pick the winner in this category with so many stunning entries. Gabriela's photo caught our attention not just for its beauty but also for the artistic vision behind it."
More information and the full list of winners can be found on the Scottish Nature Photography Awards website.
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Edinburgh-based Charles Everitt was named Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year for his incredible photo Lily of the Valley, taken in a woodland near the village of Kirkliston.
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Gabriela Hamza of Peebles was named Junior Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year for her image Odd One Out, which she captured during a summer evening walk in her local park in the Scottish Borders.
(Image: Gabriela Hamza / Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year)2 of 7
This incredible shot by Chris Hoskins of the Scottish capital's most iconic structure, titled Autumnal Edinburgh Castle, won the Urban Greenspace category.
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The Natural Abstract category was won by Graham Niven for his magnificent frosty photo Winter Hold.
(Image: Graham Niven / Scottish Nature Photography Awards)4 of 7
