Hamilton photographer Dylan Nardini, has been crowned this year’s Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year.
“Hamilton-based Nardini, won the prestigious title with his winning portfolio of 3 stunning images shot in the Isle of Arran and in his local area of South Lanarkshire. They include ‘Arran Light’, which captures the dynamics of typical Scottish changeable April weather on the beautiful west coast Island, ‘Submerged’, a dramatic image of winter light peppering the landscape near Leadhills, the highest village in Scotland and ‘Vice Versa’ which is an intimate late Autumnal shot of vibrant fallen foliage on cold blue rocks of the banks of Avon Water in Chatelherault Country Park.
Dylan said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the Overall Winner of Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year, a competition I admire in its process of judging of not just one image but a portfolio of work from each photographer. Knowing that the judges have seen something pleasing in my work is so flattering and has given me a huge boost in what has been a very tough year for so many. I’d like to thank my wife Louise, kids Gypsy and Martha for putting up with me going on about light everywhere we go and disappearing early on so many mornings, to hunt those little magical moments that highlight our beautiful country.”
Nardini, 47, believes he has developed his passion for the landscape while driving freight trains around the country at every hour of the day, while working with DB Cargo for the last 28 years. He has practiced photography since High School but has only been focused on Outdoor Photography since 2014 where his development has gained him recognition through magazine articles, cover images as well as a small published book of his work.
The Competition, now in its seventh year, was almost at the point of closing down when the pandemic took hold. Competition founder, Stuart Low said “With travel restrictions mounting up, then eventually a full lockdown, I knew it was impossible for photographers to travel around to capture images so I feared no one would enter. I was about to wind things up but so many photographers urged me to keep going, and told me without the competition there was little for them to look forward to. I knew I couldn’t let them down so I went ahead, albeit with a fair amount of trepidation.”
The Competition was given a much needed boost in the form of continued support from incumbent sponsors The John Muir Trust and Permajet, but also secured major new sponsorship from Bonnie & Wild in a 3 year deal that will see the winning images displayed at a permanent exhibition in the heart of Edinburgh’s new, soon to open St James Quarter. Low said “I am absolutely delighted to have continued sponsorship and genuinely over the moon by this new partnership with Bonnie & Wild. It means a permanet rolling exhibition in an amazing new venue that is sure to attract more visitors than we could have imagined”
In addition to the overall title, The Competition consists of several other categories including awards for the best single landscape, seascape urban and weather images, and despite the pandemic, it attracted over 3000 entries from across the globe. Stuart Low said “ It’s humbling to receive so many entries, considering how difficult things have been for everyone. It’s also the been quite emotional for everyone involved in the judging. Whilst we relaxed things to allow photographers to enter classic images from their archives, others adapted to the challenges of the restrictions and captured beauty on their doorsteps, and I’m sure that will touch many people’s hearts.”
The winning images will be showcased in a limited edition book and exhibited at the the new St James Quarter and some smaller galleries in the Scottish Highlands when restrictions permit.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS CAN BE FOUND HERE
NOTES FOR EDITORS
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Book – The Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year – Collection 7 by Breeze Media. £27.ISBN: 978-0-9935413-6-0
On sale/pre order at www.slpoty.com/
Awards
Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year (overall award)
Landscape Award
Seascape Award
Urban Award
Monochrome Award
Four Seasons Awards
Scottish Weather Award
Bonnie and Wild Prize
John Muir Trust – Wild Places Award (10 winners receive an individual award)