In footage: Scottish Nature Pictures Awards 2025

“Dancing” gnats, a detailed encounter with a spider and a surgical examination of a lifeless whale are among the many winners of the Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year Awards 2025.

Scenes pictured in Edinburgh and Glenshiel additionally picked up prizes.

An exhibition tour and portfolio yearbook of the award-winners will be launched in the summer.

Toby Houlton gained the wildlife behaviour class and total Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year award along with his picture of tiny flies.

His image, Dancing Gnats, 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’,” mentioned Toby.

“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.”

He added: “The speed of these tiny dancers meant that multiple wingbeats were captured in the exposure, creating the patterns.”

Competition decide Niall Irvine praised Toby for his artistic use of photographic method.

Kiran Simpson, 14, from Dunfermline, gained the junior award for the second yr in a row.

His picture known as The Leaf Eater exhibits a spider up shut.

Kiran mentioned: “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 time, the patterns on its physique and its spiny legs stood out in unbelievable element.

“I ran inside to grab my camera, knowing it might be gone by the time I got back.

“What I really like most about this photograph is that it was taken actually steps from my again door.”

Rob Henderson won the student prize with his In the Time Between portfolio focused on white water lilies and Scots pines within the landscape at Loch Garten near Grantown-on-Spey.

Rob is studying MA Geography at the University of Glasgow, and photography formed a core component of his dissertation and coursework.

“I used to be interested by capturing the distinction between the temporary, seasonal presence of the lilies and the endurance of the pines via the yearly cycles,” he mentioned.

“As each a geographer and photographer, I’m drawn to the best way landscapes can categorical change and time.”

Photographer and filmmaker James Appleton, from Ullapool, is the winner of the video award for Stac Pollaidh Wildfire.

“This was the results of a strong two days documenting the human-made wildfire that consumed the slopes of Stac Pollaidh early in spring 2025,” mentioned James.

“The ensuing panorama, completely blackened, however has already begun to rebound with life.”