Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year Awards 2025 Highlights
"Dancing" gnats, a close-up of a spider, and a detailed examination of a deceased whale are among the winning images at the Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year Awards 2025. The competition also recognized scenes captured in Edinburgh and Glenshiel.
An exhibition tour and a portfolio yearbook featuring the award-winning photographs will be launched during the summer.
Overall Winner and Wildlife Behaviour Category
Toby Houlton received both the wildlife behaviour category award and the overall Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year title for his photograph of tiny flies. His image, titled Dancing Gnats, was captured at Little Garve in Ross-shire.
"I had been walking back beside the river in the late afternoon, and there, in patches of dappled sun, the gnats were 'dancing'," Toby explained.
"A moment of inspiration made me realise that taking an image with a slow shutter speed would create the amazing light trails, and the hint of the darker woodland behind would provide the sense of place."
"The speed of these tiny dancers meant that multiple wingbeats were captured in the exposure, creating the patterns."
Competition judge Niall Irvine commended Toby for his innovative use of photographic techniques.
Junior Award Winner
Kiran Simpson, aged 14, from Dunfermline, won the junior award for the second consecutive year. His photograph, The Leaf Eater, presents a close-up of a spider.
"Right outside my kitchen door, under the glow of the outdoor light, I spotted this garden spider on its web, with a leaf caught in the silk beside it.
Against the darkness of the night, the patterns on its body and its spiny legs stood out in incredible detail.
I ran inside to grab my camera, knowing it might be gone by the time I got back.
What I love most about this photo is that it was taken literally steps from my back door."
Student Prize Winner
Rob Henderson won the student prize with his portfolio titled In the Time Between, which focuses on white water lilies and Scots pines within the landscape at Loch Garten near Grantown-on-Spey.
Rob is pursuing an MA in Geography at the University of Glasgow, where photography is a core component of his dissertation and coursework.
"I was interested in capturing the contrast between the brief, seasonal presence of the lilies and the endurance of the pines through the yearly cycles," he said.
"As both a geographer and photographer, I am drawn to the way landscapes can express change and time."
Video Award Winner
Photographer and filmmaker James Appleton, from Ullapool, received the video award for his work titled Stac Pollaidh Wildfire.
"This was the result of a powerful two days documenting the human-made wildfire that consumed the slopes of Stac Pollaidh early in spring 2025," James stated.
"The resulting landscape, totally blackened, nevertheless has already begun to rebound with life."
Additional Landscape Award Winners
Orrin Bryers won the Scottish landscape - land category with his image Teeth of Winter, taken in Glenshiel.
Jamie McDermaid was awarded the Scottish landscape - urban greenspace prize for his photograph of Edinburgh.
Adele Warner-Tate, from Lewis, secured the Scottish landscape - sea and coast prize with her image Where Winter Lands, captured in Harris.
