The 10th Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year has been announced with a stunning portfolio of images by Edinburgh-based Ian Bowie chosen by the judges as the overall winner of the prestigious title.
His winning portfolio of images included “Travelling Without Moving”, an atmospheric shot of boats at Loch Ruskie in the Trossachs, “High Times #1 The Passing of the Storm”, an image of stunning light painting the mountain range captured during wild weather at a summit camp on Beinn Tulaichean and “Tide Lines”, a subtle morning image of a wave breaking over a rocky beach on the North Fife Coast.
Winners portfolio
Click to view gallery in lightbox
Ian also scooped the Environmental category award with an image of dead trees on loch side shore, titled “Emergency-on-planet-earth”.
Bowie said “I am deeply honoured and thrilled to have been named the winner of the Scottish Landscape Photographer of the year for 2024. This recognition holds a special place in my heart as it highlights the absolute best of the Scottish landscape and those that capture the single moment in time. This competition has been a profound source of inspiration for me and the images I capture.
“I would also like to thank the sponsors and the organiser of the award Stuart Low for his commitment to celebrating the beauty of Scotland’s landscapes and supporting the art. It makes all the very early mornings, the freezing mountain ascents, falling in bogs and being bitten by hordes of midges very much worth it! I would also like to thank my partner Nicola for putting up with me heading out into the night; and my parents and friends for encouraging me to keep photographing the landscape we in Scotland call home.
“I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the organisers for their tireless efforts in coordinating this prestigious event. Their dedication to promoting landscape photography and showcasing the incredible talent within this community is invaluable. I am also immensely grateful to the judges for their time, expertise, and discerning eyes. Your recognition of my work is an incredible honour indeed, and I am deeply humbled by your selection.
Ian believes that being from the city, it makes him long for the outdoors, and combined with his love of photography, it provides a means to escape the city hustle and bustle and unwind and enjoy the peace this brings to him.
10th year sees 4000 entries
The Awards, now in its 10th year, attracted 4000 entries from the UK and overseas. The title for best individual landscape went to Anne Berger from Germany with a stunning winter image of Ben Loyal, the seascape award was won by Dean Allan with a dramatic image of a double rainbow near Clashnessie, the urban award was won by David Queenan with a misty image of the Queensferry Crossing and the Creative award was won by Jane Lee with a painterly image of Luskentyre beach.
Awards founder Stuart Low said, “When I set up the awards 10 years ago, my aim was to showcase our beautiful places and promote our country. Every year we receive stunning images from the most popular locations in Scotland which certainly does that very well, but this year I wanted to see more images from lesser known places and more of our natural heritage, and the photographers didn’t disappoint. Our environment is so precious that we need photographers to record what we have in the hope that it will inspire others to cherish and protect what we have in generations to come”.
Continued and new sponsors
The awards received a boost with continued sponsorship from Bonnie & Wild & Permajet, but was also boosted by sponsorship from Close Brothers Asset management and Scottish Field Magazine.
Low added, “I’m delighted for the continued support of our sponsors and our new sponsors because they play such an important part in helping the awards raise the profiles of photographers and raising awareness of our beautiful places.”
The winning images will be showcased in a limited edition book via the competition’s website and also exhibited at the St James Quarter and some smaller galleries in the Scottish Highlands later in the year.