Dundee student named Nature Photographer of the Year

The theme of this year’s competition was Coexistence’, Claire’s Life in the City portfolio, photographed around Dundee, shows how nature and wildlife can adapt and live in a densely populated human space. 

The Scottish Nature Photography Awards celebrate nature, wildlife, and landscape photography in Scotland. Claire won in the student category. 

She will receive an engraved glass award, £50 cash prize, and a copy of the Portfolio Yearbook 2023. Claire’s works will also be featured in the Touring Exhibition in 2024. 

Claire said, “My photographs focused on the small and often overlooked nature that we exist alongside, from a simple tree that could not be left alone without the presence of humans being left in its bark, a curious pigeon that was safely up out of the reach of humans watching as people go about their everyday lives, and a small plant that was able to adapt and use human infrastructure to make its home.” 

Niall Irvine, organiser of the Scottish Nature Photography Awards, said, “The judges liked Claire's interpretation of coexistence within a city. The portfolio highlights small details that we pass by every day, yet they are interwoven with our lives. A very worthy winner of the award.” 

Janice Aitken, Reader in Art & Design at the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and who taught Claire in photography, said, “We are delighted with Claire's success. She showed an avid interest in landscape photography when she worked on her photography project with me.  

“Her ability to find natural beauty and interest in an urban environment was evident through her work then. It is wonderful to see that ability being recognised with this prize.” 

There will be an exhibition tour of the winners from all eleven categories later this year, and they will be published along with the shortlisted entries in a Portfolio Yearbook in the summer.  

Details available at www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com