Winner, winner, chicken dinner

I’m delighted that I’ve won a prize in the inaugural Orkney Nature Festival Photography Competition 2026.

Winner - Terrestrial Animals of Orkney

My image, Black Guillemot flying past with a Butterfish, won first prize in the Terrestrial Animals of Orkney category. I’m particularly delighted that the prize is sponsored by Ola Gorie, whose jewellery I adore. I’ve been collecting her cuff-links for years. My favourites are a pair of silver ones from 1979. I’ve bought old pieces of jewellery by Ola at auction and bought new ones in Kirkwall. It’ll be wonderful to receive something from their collection.

I’ve been delighted that the competition has been featured on the BBC’s website:

BBC Scotland News. Winner - Terrestrial Animals of Orkney

Here’s a link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cre30pkpn0w3o

It’s currently on the BBC Scotland home page:

BBC Scotland News. Winner - Terrestrial Animals of Orkney

It’s a shame the BBC chose to credit me only as ‘David’ rather than ‘David at the Hall of Einar’, which is my full name for photography purposes.

A greater shame is that my dad, whose encouragement means I entered some photography competitions in the first place, has dementia which has progressed to such a point that he’s not really able to understand the success. I’m sure he’d be thrilled. He loved a good competition. Congratulations to all five of the other category winners and the six runners up. There are some beautiful images.

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