Photography Students Honoured at Awards

Marine & Natural History Photography students have claimed first and third place in the Student Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2017 Awards.

Third year student Rebecca Witt came first with her portfolio Cairngorms Woodland Wildlife, featuring native animals in their natural habitats, her own interpretation of the student competition brief on the theme of woods.

Rebecca explained: "Nature has always been close to my heart, and from a young age I have had a great appreciation for Britain's wildlife. To have the opportunity to visit Scotland and spend a week in the Cairngorms National Park was truly magical, and an experience I shall never forget."

Judge Niall Irvine said: "Rebecca's portfolio is very well composed and has a good balance of the wildlife and the woodland habitat through the three images."

Tierney Lloyd achieved third place with her True Autumn Portfolio, three striking images of the Scottish landscape and woodlands, including a more abstract representation of a forest. Tierney reflected: "Winning third place in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards Student Category is an incredible achievement that I am so grateful to have.

"Being an avid nature lover, it was the perfect opportunity to show the beauty of Scottish woodlands. I am an activist for the rewilding movement, and I feel that photography is a great way to show that the Scottish woodlands are such an important ecosystem in the country."

On Tierney's submissions, Judge Niall Irvine said: "This portfolio portrays the woodland autumn colours. Tierney has used different photographic techniques to show this from abstract interpretation to sweeping landscape."

The Scottish Nature Photography Awards aims to provide a platform for emerging nature photographers to capture the stunning wildlife and landscape within Scotland. The annual competition encourages submissions from professional and amateur photographers alike.

Marine & Natural History Photography engages students with conservation, natural history image making and the environment. The course includes an underwater programme with dive tuition, offering the opportunity for students to capture hundreds of miles of Cornish coastline and its marine wildlife.