2025 Title Winners
Scottish Wildlife Behaviour Category &
Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
1st: Toby Houlton - Dance of the Gnats
© Toby Houlton - Dance of the Gnats
Toby said: "I was overjoyed to hear that my image had been chosen as the winner of the behaviour category, and when I was given the amazing news that it was also the overall winner this year, I had to ask for that to be repeated, as I thought I had misheard!
"I have been an avid wildlife photographer for around 20 years and, due to my love of nature and the outdoors, moved to Scotland with my wife in 2017. I strive to show the diversity and beauty of wildlife close to home, especially when images of a common or overlooked subject can help the viewer appreciate them in ways not previously seen or considered. I enjoy all aspects of wildlife photography, whether that be lying amongst the weed on a shoreline to photograph shorebirds or searching for tiny macro subjects amongst foliage; I just love to see what nature reveals.
"My winning image was taken 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'. 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."
Judge Niall Irvine said: "It takes the viewer a little time to work out what they are looking at in this image, but it is so rewarding! The highlighted patterns created by the movement of the gnats, captured by the creative use of photographic technique, and the subtle woodland textures in the background give the image of these tiny creatures drama and impact. It's a stunning winner for our 16th Awards!"
Junior Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
Kiran Simpson
(age 14)
- The Leaf Eater
© Kiran Simpson - The Leaf Eater
Kiran said: "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. It just goes to show that you don't need to travel far to find incredible wildlife; it's all around us if you just stop and look.
"Being recognised at this level really means a lot."
Judge Michael Prince said: "I'm not usually a fan of spiders – my main experience of their world tends to involve helping them out of the sink or bathtub and escorting them to the back door. This striking macro photograph of a garden spider descending on a single thread towards an autumn leaf made me stop and take a much closer look. The brown and orange tones of its camouflage are perfectly adapted to its surroundings, leaving me in awe of this tiny creature. The spiky hairs on its legs even made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"It was wonderful to see such a technically challenging photographic technique used so effectively to reveal the usually unnoticed life of a spider."
Student Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
Rob Henderson
– In the Time Between
Portfolio
MA Geography, University of Glasgow
©
Rob Henderson - First Openings. In the Time Between
Portfolio
©
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Rob said: "I am incredibly honoured to have my portfolio awarded 1st place in the Student category, and I am very grateful to have my work recognised in this way. Photography formed a core component of my dissertation to complete vegetation analysis and wider coursework. In the Time Between explores the temporal relationship between white water lilies and Scots pines within the landscape, with each image placing a different emphasis between the two. 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. As both a geographer and photographer, I am drawn to the way landscapes can express change and time. These images were captured over a couple of days, during which I camped by the lochside and woke early to get the best conditions. This was my first visit to the location for photography, and it has encouraged me to continue returning to photograph the loch as part of a wider portfolio across the seasons. I am very grateful to the judges for selecting this portfolio as the winner, and to everyone involved in organising the competition."
Judge Niall Irvine said: "We liked Rob's portfolio on the theme of change because the images work so well together, allowing the viewer to get a sense of place while still picking out individual details.
"The series starts with a classic botanical study of the water lilies progressing via a more abstract interpretation to the final scene portraying the lilies and Scots pines and their place within the wider landscape. This really conveyed a sense of transience and endurance coexisting."
Scottish Nature Video Award 2025
James Appleton - Stac Pollaidh Wildfire
© James Appleton - Stac Pollaidh Wildfire
James said: "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. The resulting landscape, totally blackened, nevertheless has already begun to rebound with life. It has been assumed that a campfire, left without being correctly extinguished, was responsible."
Judge Harry Martin said: "Stunning cinematography and high-end production abound in James's video entry. The judges were immediately hooked with the incredible drone footage and soundscape created in the first few seconds, illustrating how important it is to set up a story quickly and deliver interest in the opening sequences of a short video. With simple cuts, a variety of shot styles and a well-polished edit, James has perfectly captured one of the most dramatic wildfire incidents of last year. With no narration, he has left interpretation of the overall story and impact to the viewer, inviting questions and a look into what happened. It's no surprise that we see a supporting photograph of this fire by James being awarded in the environmental category too."
Environmental category
Natural Abstract category
Scottish Botanical category
Scottish Landscape - The Land category
Scottish Landscape - Sea & Coast category
Scottish Landscape - Urban Greenspace category
Scottish Wildlife Behaviour category
Scottish Wildlife Portrait category
Junior category
Student category
Scottish Nature Video Award 2025