PICTURES: Judges 'blown away' by entries to Highland photography competition
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Stunning views of the Highlands and Moray provided judges of a photography competition with a tough challenge.
More than 190 pictures were entered into the Capture the Moment contest, launched to celebrate chartered accountancy and business advice firm Johnston Carmichael’s long-established relationship with the regions.
The firm – which has 12 offices across Scotland, including bases in Inverness, Elgin, Huntly, Inverurie and Fraserburgh – asked photographers to submit images relating to a range of its key sectors of agriculture, construction, food and drink, oil and gas, hospitality and tourism.
Entries were reviewed by a panel of judges including local photographers, artists and journalists, as well as Grenville Johnston, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, and grandson of Bill Johnston, a co-founder of Johnston Carmichael.
Eventually they selected four winners:
Debbie Knowles (31) from Elgin was crowned the winner of the best photograph taken on a smartphone category for her image of Elgin Cathedral and the River Lossie. She captured the photograph on her iPhone 8.
The best junior photograph award went to 13-year-old Joanna Lipp from Killen for her image of a row of wellington boots on a farm on the Black Isle. The judges loved the colours in the image and thought it encapsulated the agriculture sector very well.
The best image which tells a story category was won by Angus Chisholm (66) from Invergordon, who took inspiration from the fishing industry. The striking image shows a cormorant swooping down into the shoreline at North Kessock to retrieve a mackerel and received lots of praise from the panel of judges.
Morven Mackenzie (53) from Findhorn took home the prize for the best sector image, with a photograph of a female engineer working at a local engineering firm.
Each winner will receive a £250 cash prize and will have their work displayed in the firm’s offices, and also at Eden Court in Inverness later this year.
Scott Jeffrey, audit partner at Johnston Carmichael, said: “We’ve been blown away with the calibre of entries we’ve seen and choosing our winners was no easy task.
“It’s been so interesting to see how all our entrants have interpreted each of the categories and sectors.
“To have over 190 entries is truly fantastic and we’ve been so impressed with the creativity and hard work that each of our entrants have showcased.”
