Two wildlife photographers from Aberdeenshire have been shortlisted in a national competition.
Bob Humphreys from Alford and Peter Lewis from Peterhead impressed the judges of the Scottish Seabird Centre’s Nature Photography Awards with their candid photos of north-east creatures.
Now in its ninth year, the national competition celebrates Scottish people’s long-standing love of nature and the massive variety of animals that inhabit it.
This year, more than 435 entries were submitted, capturing wildlife and natural vistas from all corners of Scotland – with Mr Humphreys and Mr Lewis among the finalists.
Mr Humphreys previously won the public choice category of the competition in 2012, and again impressed judges with his submissions this year.
His photographs have been included in the Scottish wildlife category, and include a striking image of a dolphin catching a fish in the Moray Firth, and a tiny Fieldfare bird perched on a twig.
He said: “‘Dolphin with Fish’ was taken at Chanonry Point, which is a popular place to view and photograph dolphins close up.
“On that day I joined 100 people on the beach, and the feeding started once the salmon commenced their run upstream. Anticipation and timing are critical to photographing them, but the results can be interesting.
“For my other image, flocks of Fieldfare range across Aberdeenshire in autumn seeking berries, and this bird was part of a flock in Strathdon. I photographed it across the main road with the field providing a pleasant backdrop.”
Mr Lewis has been put forward for two awards for his pictures of a tiny yellow bird catching a moth for breakfast, and a migratory bird perched at Rattray Beach, between Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
Mr Lewis said: “‘Early Morning Catch’ was taken on July 6 at the Bullers of Buchan.
“A friend and I were off to photograph puffins and other seabirds at the cliff tops near our home, when I spotted this Yellowhammer with a moth in its mouth, in some gorse.”
“My image from the environmental impact category, ‘Safety Net’, was taken on March 3, 2013.
“This migrant, which was way off course at Rattray Beach, was using an old creel net as a vantage point. I took this to show how man’s rubbish can be adapted by wildlife sometimes.”