Snapper scoops top award
A freight train driver from Hamilton took inspiration from his daily travels to be crowned this year’s Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year.
Dylan Nardini, a dad-of-two, travels around the country with his work and sees plenty of beautiful scenery along the way, igniting a passion for landscape photography.
And it’s on trips to some of his favourite places – like the Isle of Arran and Highland villages – where he has captured stunning photography shots.
Dylan entered several of his best photographs into this year’s Scottish Landscape Photograph of the Year contest and was “absolutely thrilled” to beat off competition for the top award from thousands of entrants from all over the world.
The 47-year-old told the Advertiser: “This is a competition I admire in its process of judging – of not just one image, but a portfolio of work from each photographer.
“Knowing the judges have seen something pleasing in my work is so flattering and has given me a huge boost in what has been a very tough year for so many.
“I’m a driver for DB Cargo and have been in the railway since 1993. This takes me across the country, from Aberdeen to Warrington, Ayrshire to East Lothian at every hour of the day.
“I believe it was travelling through the countryside, seeing every different variation of light in every kind of weather condition Scotland has to offer, that developed my love of landscape photography.
“It has inspired me to revisit many areas I’ve passed through while working to try and capture some of that on camera.”
Dylan’s winning photographs included ‘Arran Light,’ which captures the dynamics of typical Scottish changeable April weather on the beautiful west coast island.
Others were ‘Submerged,’ a dramatic image of winter light peppering the landscape near Leadhills, the highest village in Scotland, along with ‘Vice Versa’ which is a late Autumnal shot on the banks of Avon Water in Chatelherault Country Park.
Dylan has practised photography since high school, but has only been focused on outdoor photography since 2014 and his development has gained him recognition through magazine articles and a book of his work.
He said: “There are not many places I don’t like photographing in Scotland, but if I was to choose a favourite it would be the far North West with its ancient woodlands and Jurassic mountains, making for a stunning remote landscape to explore.
“Having work and family commitments though, those visits are few and far between so the majority of my photography is made locally, or at least within an hour’s drive which, with more frequent visits, means I get to know this area far better.
“I have been taking photographs from when I was in high school, where I was taught the basics of film photography in my art class using my first camera – a Praktica BM.
“From there I progressed, mostly self-taught, with sporadic moments of interest in different genres of photography. Eventually in 2014 I found my direction and gave my full attention to landscapes where I have continued to this day.
“I’d like to thank my wife Louise, kids Gypsy and Martha for putting up with me going on about light everywhere we go and disappearing early on so many mornings, to hunt those little magical moments that highlight our beautiful country.”
Stuart Low has been running the Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year contest for the past seven years.
He said: “With travel restrictions mounting up, then eventually a full lockdown, I knew it was impossible for photographers to travel around to capture images so I feared no one would enter this year.
“I was about to wind things up but so many photographers urged me to keep going and told me without the competition there was little for them to look forward to. I knew I couldn’t let them down so I went ahead.”
Stuart was blown away by the response from talented photographers based all over the world.
In addition to the overall title won by Dylan, the competition has several other categories including awards for the best single landscape, seascape urban and weather images.
The winning photos will be showcased in a limited edition book and exhibited at the new St James Quarter and some smaller galleries in the Scottish Highlands when restrictions permit.