Loch of Strom image wins calendar competition

This stunning image of the Loch of Strom by Colin Dickie has been selected by readers to appear on the 2016 Shetland Times calendar.

His photo was taken the day after storm Abigail whistled through the isles and its combination of scenic beauty and atmospheric sky has proved a winning combination.

Some 642 votes were cast in favour of Colin’s image in our online poll, a 19 per cent share of the total.

Colin told The Shetland Times he was delighted so many people had liked his photo and he is looking forward to seeing it appear on the calendar, which comes free with the newspaper on 31st December.

“We were out for a drive with the family one Sunday,” said Colin. “My girlfriend suggested we take a detour through Stromfirth and we made a small pit-stop so I got out and took a few photos. I didn’t have my tripod with me but hopefully the photo didn’t suffer too much.

“It was a lovely scene and a lovely view. I hope I did it justice.”

Colin, 39, who lives in Tingwall, only took up photography this year having bought his first camera. “I’m trying to learn as fast as I can how to take a good photo, it’s been a steep learning curve so far.”

More than 3,370 votes were cast in this year’s competition, with Steven Birrell’s photo of a wave breaking under red skies finishing second with 608 votes.

Scott Goudie was in third place (575 votes) with a shot of the Voe of Footabrough, taken during Storm Abigail.

Colin, a project manager for the North Yell Development Company, said it was “humbling” to have won, but added: “It’s great, particularly from being so new to photography – I’m delighted I have managed to take a photo people like.”

He also had praise for the other images in the final 12.  “There was some great other photos out there in the competition. The Steven Birrell one in particular, it was fantastic the way he had captured the wave there. I didn’t think I stood a chance.”