A curated selection of photographs submitted by readers between 18 and 25 September showcases the diverse beauty of Scotland's natural landscapes, wildlife, and landmarks. The collection spans coastal vistas, wildlife encounters, architectural moments, and atmospheric weather phenomena captured across the country during the transition into autumn.
This week's gallery represents part of an ongoing editorial series. A newer collection covering 11–18 September has since been published, demonstrating the continued popularity of the feature among Scotland's photography community. Readers are invited to submit their own images to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk, with submissions subject to the broadcaster's photography guidelines and terms of use.
Coastal and water scenes
The collection opens with a golden-hour photograph taken on the shores of Loch Linnhe near Kinggairloch, submitted by Richard Taylor from Dunbar. The warm light at day's end has long been favoured by landscape photographers for its soft, flattering quality.
Water features prominently throughout the submissions. A rainbow stretching from Nairn to the Black Isle was captured by Steven Coull from Nairn Beach, while Linda Miller from Gartcosh photographed a tranquil harbour scene at Irvine during a walk with her sister.
The Firth of Forth appears in multiple submissions. Javed Zada documented the waterway from Bo'ness Shore during a family walk, while David May offered an alternative perspective of the Forth Road Bridge itself.
Wildlife and natural history
Scotland's fauna feature prominently in this week's submissions. Niall Hammond from Alloa captured a bee at work during a visit to House of Dun in Montrose, while Malcolm Gillies photographed red squirrels in their natural habitat from a wildlife hide in the forest above Aberfoyle.
Bird enthusiasts contributed several images. Richard Perry from Edinburgh submitted a photograph of a bar-tailed godwit taking flight from Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve, capturing the moment the wader launches into the wind. Scotland's wildlife continues to draw attention from photographers and conservationists alike, with species ranging from seabirds to land mammals regularly documented across the country.
Domestic animals also feature in the selection. Tony Kidd submitted an action shot of Henry, a 14-year-old West Highland terrier, in full flight on Sanna Bay in Ardnamurchan. Graham Charles photographed his dog Pippa posed within the ruins of Strome Castle during a journey along the NC500 route.
Jamie Neish captured a red deer stag at rest during golden hour while on holiday in Torridon, showcasing the larger mammals that inhabit Scotland's Highlands.
Atmospheric phenomena and weather
Several submissions document Scotland's dramatic weather and light conditions. Dean McCabe photographed himself walking through a cliffside waterfall at Dunnet Head lighthouse, where strong North Atlantic winds blew the water inland.
Walking through a cliffside waterfall being blown back inland by the strong North Atlantic wind, he described the moment.
Sunrise and sunset imagery dominates the collection's atmospheric category. Pat Christie captured a glorious September sunrise over Milsey Bay in North Berwick, while Mairi Smith from Torphins in Aberdeenshire submitted a sunset photograph from Findhorn beach.
Nature truly is a beautiful thing, Smith reflected on her submission.
Torquil MacLeod from Stornoway documented the autumn equinox sunset over Duncansby Stacks, marking the seasonal transition. Lyndsey Croal submitted a striking image of a rainbow arcing over Calton Hill at the end of Princes Street, while John Dyer captured a reflective "puddle pic" in Motherwell.
Architecture and cultural moments
Urban and architectural subjects complement the landscape and wildlife focus. Jan Dolny from Edinburgh photographed the interior of Glasgow City Chambers, noting that
It's a building people pass daily but may have no idea of the stunning architecture inside.
Cultural events also appear in the submissions. Niall Cook from Renfrew documented the crowd at the OVO Hydro during a 10th anniversary concert for the band Tidelines, capturing a moment of live entertainment.
Emma Adams submitted a photograph of her sons enjoying themselves at the Prince Albert Cairn during a campervan trip around the country, blending family moments with Scotland's notable landmarks.
Submission guidelines and copyright
Photographers submitting images to the feature must adhere to several requirements. All photographs must be the photographer's own work and must not be edited or enhanced using artificial intelligence. If images include children, written permission from a parent or of every child is mandatory—permission from grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends does not suffice.
Contributors must ensure they take photographs safely and responsibly, never endangering themselves or others, taking unnecessary risks, or infringing the law. By submitting an image, photographers grant a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and use the material in any way, including across all media worldwide. However, contributors retain full copyright ownership of their work.
All photographs remain subject to copyright protection. The Scotland photo feature continues as part of the broadcaster's regular editorial output, with new selections published on a weekly or near-weekly basis. Readers wishing to submit their own photographs should send them to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk and review the broadcaster's photography rules before submission.
What happens next
The feature is expected to continue with a new weekly selection of reader submissions in the coming weeks, maintaining the established editorial rhythm that has made it a regular fixture in Scotland's news coverage.
