Uist sunset

An atmospheric photograph of a derelict school in North Uist has won a prize in a new competition for photographs of the Scottish landscape.

‘Old School, Lochportain, North Uist’, by Mairead Maclennan, has been chosen as a runner-up in the Jolomo Colours of Scotland Photography Competition launched last year by the top Scottish artist John Lowrie Morrison.

The photograph fought its way to the top of a strong field of entries in the competition which challenged people to find colour in the Scottish landscape.

Images came in from all over Scotland, from Golspie to Kintyre, from trained photographers, keen amateurs and those snapping a spectacular sunset on their way home from work on their mobile phone.

Overall winner was Hugh Nicol, from Appin, for his photograph ‘The Audrey, Loch Creran.’

John Lowrie Morrison, known as “Jolomo”, whose colourful paintings of the Scottish landscape have made him a bestseller, said: “People often ask me where I get the strong colours in my paintings. I like to tell them to get out more and really look at what’s around them.

"We wanted to see what would happen when we invited people to send us their photographs of the colours they’ve seen.

“The entries were superb, making it difficult to judge.

Mairead’s picture is stunning, showing the colours of Scotland extremely well, particularly the Scottish sunsets and that special light of the Scottish gloaming.”

Mairead, a freelance media producer who lives near the old school in North Uist, said: “I have a large collection of photographs of the old school in Lochportain because I live nearby.

"Extremes of weather take their toll on the building in the form of broken windows and flaking paint. This photograph was taken after a very wet, gloomy day - suddenly the clouds dispersed to show the the end of a most impressive late summer sunset.”

Susanne Wilson from East Kilbride also won a runner-up prize for her photograph of Luskentyre Beach, Harris, taken on a trip to the islands in 2014.

John Lowrie Morrison, whose family hails from the Isle of Harris, said: “Susanne’s picture is a gorgeous image of my homeland of Harris. This is the kind of image that make some people say to me: ‘Where did you get that colour?’ and I respond with ‘You ought to get out more.’”

Hugh will receive a framed Jolomo print worth £400 as his prize, and the runners up will receive unframed prints.

Uist sunset image wins photography prize

30 July 2016