A veteran Moray photographer has won a top Scottish competition after capturing spectacular scenes on his “ancient” camera.
Ian Cameron, from Forres, toured the Highlands with the trusty camera he has had for nearly 20 years to snap the award winning photographs.
Mr Cameron, who has been taking pictures professionally for 30 years, was yesterday crowned Scottish landscape photographer of the year.
His efforts defeated roughly 6,000 other submissions from across the globe to take top honours.
Aweinspiring images of a freezing lochside and ruined home on the west coast and of a midsummer sunrise over a mountain in Sutherland helped him take the title.
But the 54-year-old reserved special praise for the dependable piece of kit which has accompanied him on endless jaunts across the north.
Mr Cameron said: “I prefer to use an old film camera, which is quite unusual these days.
“I take pictures with a type of Pentax camera which has been classed as obsolete for the last 13 years.
“I use it every day to take landscape photos, it suits the way I view things.
“I did think the photos were good, but I was surprised they beat so many other entries.”
Mr Cameron says using the dated equipment forced him to take more time over his photographs.
He added: “I don’t have any idea of what the picture looks like until it is developed, I just have to rely on my experience.”
The lensman regularly ventures into remote parts of the Highlands and Islands at first light to capture stunning sunrises.
One snap that was shot at the crack of dawn last summer in Sutherland earned special praise from judges.
The picture, entitled Awakening Ben Loyal, depicts the crystal clear reflection the 2,500ft mountain casts upon the waters by its foot.
Another of his winning images, Caramel Ice, was shot by the side of a remote loch in Wester Ross in temperatures of -25C.
Organiser Stuart Low created and funded the landscape photography contest to promote Scotland’s impressive natural scenery.
Mr Low, a photographer and teacher, hopes it will encourage entrants to explore the nation’s most picturesque spots.
Winning entries will be featured in a series of public exhibitions and in a special edition book released later this month.