Atmospheric Caithness seascape photo is shortlisted
A PROFESSIONAL photographer living at Whaligoe has had one of his images shortlisted for a major photographic competition.
John McMaster was delighted to learn of the accolade bestowed on him in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards Photographic Competition (SNPAPC) 2019.
"The results were announced last week and I got shortlisted in the Sea and Coast section for my view of the Moray Firth from Whaligoe," said John.
"When I look at what other images they chose I think I was quite lucky to get so far."
The image was taken from near his home at the top of the Whaligoe Steps and shows a dark atmospheric study of clouds and rain out at sea that John says is a "little underexposed" to create a better effect.
John has been a professional photographer for around 35 years and his usual preference is for slightly abstracted landscapes.

"I also do some commercial work. I did some shots for Stockton Drilling for the new Dunnet waste outlet at the end of last year."
John says he is not sure how significant the accolade will be for him in the long run but he noted that the competition had attracted a large number of entries with many seemingly from outside of Scotland.
He added: "There will be a book with the image in it and there is also a travelling exhibition but I am not sure if my image will be part of that."
The SNPAPC was launched in 2010 to provide a platform to celebrate Scotland as a key destination for nature photographers and "to acknowledge the excellence of the photographic work" that is undertaken in the country.
The annual competition invites entries of images taken in Scotland by professional or amateur photographers from around the world.