The Scottish Biodiversity Week 2011 Nature Photography Competition is now closed!

2011 Winners

The theme of 2011's competition:"Nature gifts to me" attracted a high number of entries.

Thank you to everybody who entered! Congratulations to our top three winners!

• 1st prize went to Jennifer Sanger from Pitlochry with her image entitled "Sky Edge"
• 2nd prize was earned by Catherine Clark from Inverness with her image entitled "Gannet with a Feather"
• 3rd prize was scooped by James York from Edinburgh with his image entitled "Goosebumps".

First prize was a one-to-one tutorial with professional photographer, Lorne Gill who was also the principal competition judge; second prize, an Olympus E-450 Digital SLR camera; and third prize, a Panasonic Lumix F245 Digital Camera and a Hama Star tripod.

About the winning images

Principal judge Lorne Gill, commented "Jennifer's winning image features the two most important ingredients for life, air and water as the main elements in the scene. Beautifully composed and tightly framed by the trees and grass by the pond edge. The photograph is made much more dramatic by the inclusion of Jennifer's summer shoes reminding us that we are all part of nature. Jennifer lives in a city now but took the image at Faskally Woods near her home in Pitlochry. She comments that "Wherever I go in life the landscape will change, the creatures will be different and the sounds will be new. But by looking up at the sky always reminds me that it is all part of the same picture, and that is a comforting gift that nature gives me".

Commenting on Catherine's "Gannet with a Feather" entry, Lorne noted: "a striking yet simple image with great composition and a testament to the photographer's perseverance as she had made many previous attempts's to visit the Bass rock. Gannets like all seabirds' pair for life and continue to bond through out their lives together. Catherine has caught that intimate moment when the gift of a feather is being offered to its mate. She comments that "Watching these pairs bond in this way allowed me to connect with nature in my own way - something that is often neglected in these modern times".

Lorne said of Jame's "Goosebumps" photograph: "an amazing image which transports us into an environment that very few people in Scotland ever experience. James is a keen surfer and has caught the atmosphere and the moment that he has been waiting for as a wave bathed in golden light rolls in. He comments that "The first dose comes with the chill of the water, this second dose of natures gift tingles the skin".

Judge's further comments

"Overall a very high standard of images were entered this year particularly of wildlife and landscapes. However surprisingly few people could make the connection between what was photographed and the theme "Nature gifts to me". All three prize-winners submitted striking images and strong comments on what the images meant and how they related to the theme of the competition. "