Ali’s stunning sunrise wins photo competition
Forest Manager Ali McTavish has won the Scottish Woodlands staff photography competition for 2025, with a stunning picture of a sunrise in the Scottish Borders.
Ali’s picture, taken at Duns Castle, was selected by competition judge, professional photographer and videographer Phil Wilkinson. He said: “I really like the lovely light and the silhouette of the reeds in the foreground - and it’s really well-exposed.”
Ali said: “I’m really pleased with how the shot turned out and delighted to have won. I was out for a walk with my dog by the ponds and had to capture the reeds dancing in the morning sun!”
Photographs by Charlotte Cavey-Wilcox, Regional Manager in South East Scotland, and Eoghan Anderson, Senior Forest Manager at Lochgilphead, Argyll, were chosen by Phil as runners-up.
Charlotte’s snowy picture was taken from the forest road in Menzion, looking out across Talla Reservoir to Hearthstanes Forest in the Scottish Borders. “This is a favourite viewpoint of mine, and the snow just added an extra dimension to it,” Charlotte said.
Eoghan’s photograph was taken at Glen Forsa on Mull, where fencing works are being carried out by Fleming Forestry Fencing Ltd. He said: “This is part of 35 km of deer fencing going up on this project to keep Mull’s significant population of red deer away from our newly planted trees.”
Phil, an experienced national newspaper photographer who now runs his own business, said: “Charlotte’s image is beautifully composed, with the snow-covered trees leading you further into the landscape."
“Eoghan’s image is also very well-composed, and this time it’s the fence leading you naturally into a glorious landscape. Both runners-up also make superb use of the light.”
David Robertson, Investment and Business Development Director with Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: “I’m delighted to see such an excellent winner and runners-up for our annual competition - and thanks so much to Phil for casting his expert eye over the entries."
“The competition is a chance to remind ourselves of the beautiful places we work, and to celebrate those landscapes, the forestry industry and rural communities - and the great people who work for Scottish Woodlands.”
Phil Wilkinson has worked on a number of Scottish Woodlands projects, including filming a video at the 2024 Royal Highland Show - and creating the Flintshire Woodlands film to highlight the work of the business in north Wales and the west of England.
Another of Phil’s videos, on a high-quality woodland creation scheme managed by Scottish Woodlands Ltd in North-east Scotland, will be released soon. His excellent photographs still regularly appear in national newspapers, and his website is here.