Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2024
My inner-Grinch’s gleeful response to the Highly Commended notification email:
“Award? … You never mentioned an award? … That means there were losers?”
All jokes aside, I was grateful for the recognition. And just like Mr Grinch himself, I even descended off my temporary mountain home at the time (Foinaven) to attend the ceremony.
Even now, writing this blog post (my first ever by the way - how exciting!) I’m not sure exactly how I feel about photography competitions. The Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year Award 2024 (SLPOTY 2024) was, indeed, the first time I have entered anything of the sort, followed shortly afterwards by an entry to the Natural Landscape Awards 2024 (NLPA 2024).
It’s in my nature to ‘wear my heart on my sleeve’, as it were. I’m honest and forthright in my opinions and perspectives. I just wanted to mention that from the outset, I guess. So, why did I enter the competitions? I suppose the rationale was threefold: 1) having never entered a competition before, I wanted to see how my images would compare against the standard of other entrants - albeit in the subjective opinion of judges, just photographers themselves; 2) as far as photography competitions go, I had reason to believe that these two competitions operate with a relatively acceptable ethical and selfless approach, at least when compared with some of the other major competitions out there; 3) dare I say it, I actually believed I had a teeny, tiny, outside-chance, minute, unfathomable… Okay fine. I had pretty much no chance.
But WHAT IF? “Imagine if you did win a major competition?” My deluded brain said to me. You could become a full-time photographer, quit teaching in a secondary school forever, elevated to the halls of the great kings and queens of the legendary photographers of all time! Side by side with the great Marc Adamus; rubbing shoulders with -
Okay, okay - I’ll stop. Hopefully you all enjoy a little bit of sarcasm as much as I do. Nonetheless, it was exciting when I was notified about three images being selected as a portfolio to enter the next stage of SLPOTY 2024; and even more so when I was notified that all 12 (yes TWELVE) of the images that I had entered into the NLPA 2024 had also progressed to the later stages. The standard of photography from the previous winners over the years in the latter competition has been absolutely astonishing, so I’m quite proud to have twelve images shortlisted in there. And who knows?! At time of writing, the results are yet to be published…
Now then, I can sense your optimism from here. You’re on the edge of your seat, desperate to see the successful images, right? And not only that, you’d also like to read a small anecdote from the adventure behind each of those images… right?!
Well, you’re in luck, because my heart just swelled three sizes, and I’m feeling quite generous.
Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year
Highly Commended Portfolio - Ross Davidson
‘Swoosh’ | Fairy Pools, Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye
Zero for originality. Ten for… Originality?
A classic landscape photography location in Scotland. Probably captured thousands of times a year by photographers, tourists, dogs - you name it.
I arrived on Skye in a rather dour mood. And the weather somewhat reflected that. I needed some time off the hills. Familiarity. Creative meditation. So I returned to Glen Brittle, for only the second time, to attempt to create a somewhat unique image in this popular place. Did I succeed? I’ll let you decide - but I’m rather fond of this one.
‘Sentinels’ | Binnein Beag from Binnein Mor, Mamores
This is still my favourite viewpoint and hike in Scotland’s Highlands. On my first visit, I was glad to find this composition including the pillar of rock overlooking the spellbinding view down to Binnein Beag. In my mind, it’s like a gargoyle gazing over the distant land, a sentinel standing guard - akin to its older, grander brothers across the glen. I waited here for over an hour, enduring bitterly cold storm-force winds for some light to break through and accentuate my subject. It paid off in the end!
‘Chaos’ | Am Bodach, Mamores
Moments prior to this, I had been perched on the crux of the Devil’s Ridge, watching as a very ominous squall of snow edged its way straight toward me. A hasty descent to the col ensued, and I found shelter in between a couple of large chockstones.
A few helpings of Percy Pigs kept the spirits up as I waited for the blizzard to pass, I knew it would be short-lived, and I knew that the photographic potential once the view presented itself again could be spectacular.
When it did, I was greeted by this view of the mighty Am Bodach, and I rushed around to find a minimal and striking foreground to compliment the scene. When it didn’t present itself, I decided to embrace the beauty in the chaos instead. On reflection, it represents the reality of being in the mountains - you can be battered and blown about by the conditions, but there are still moments to be thankful for. A metaphor for life? Gosh, I am wise.
