Wildlife and nature pictures typically deal with documenting animals and landscapes as we all know them – however by embracing a extra inventive and summary method, one photographer has been awarded the Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 title.
The Scottish Nature Photography Awards (SNPA) has simply introduced its winners, with the general title going to Toby Houlton for a putting long-exposure picture. Judge Niall Irvine praised “the highlighted patterns created by the movement,” including that the delicate woodland textures within the background give the picture “drama and impact.”
To create the shot, Houlton used a DSLR first released in 2016, paired with a versatile 70-200mm zoom lens – but what exactly did he capture? If you’ve ever visited Scotland, you might recognise them. They are not a rare or exotic subject – but gnats, tiny flying insects transformed here into something unexpectedly beautiful.
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The story behind ‘Dance of the Gnats’
Overall Winner Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
Category Winner Scottish Wildlife Behaviour
Dance of the Gnats by Toby Houlton
Gear: Nikon D500 + 70-200mm f/2.8 (unspecified model)
Exposure: 1/6sec, f/20, ISO 100
“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’,” explains SNPA winner Houlton.
“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.”
For more information and to discover the other winners, visit the Scottish Nature Photography Awards website.
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