From Speyside to Slovakia, an international line up of photographers submitted a stunning selection of images for the annual Benromach Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Photography Competition.
After much deliberation, a panel of judges have selected 21 photographs as finalists for the People's Choice Award 2015. These images are about to go on public display during a touring exhibition that will visit a number of locations across Scotland.
The public are invited to vote on their favourite image and can do so now online at http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/photography_competition or by visiting the Festival Information Hubs in Aberlour and Dufftown during the Festival. The People’s Choice winner will be announced at the festival’s closing ceilidh and prizegiving on Sunday, May 3.
The People’s Choice Award comes in addition to the winners chosen by the competition’s judging panel, which will be announced during this year’s festival.
Each year Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Photography Competition, jointly sponsored by Benromach, draws entries from across the globe, and this year proved no exception, with entries submitted from Speyside to Slovakia.
The overall winner receives a five-day commission to attend the 2015 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from April 30 to May 4, and capture the passion, revelry and atmosphere of the event, along with other great prizes.
This year’s competition had three categories. Icons of Speyside encouraged photographers to focus on subtle and obvious landmarks of the area, from whisky distilleries to landscapes. Speyside in Monochrome asked entrants to capture the beauty of the area in black and white print, while Flora and Fauna of Speyside was for nature specialists.
Festival chairman James Campbell was part of the judging panel, and said: “This competition helps raise the profile of the Festival, but just as importantly it has given amateur photographers the chance to share their work with the public when they may not have otherwise been able to do so. In all three categories there are some truly fantastic images.
“The shortlisted photographs will form part of a touring exhibition, which will help us to spread the word about the Festival across Scotland. We will be asking exhibition visitors to vote for their favourite image for the People’s Choice Award.”
The Spirit of Speyside Photography Competition Exhibition Tour Dates are as follows:
Johnstons of Elgin: 30 March-10 April
Benromach Distillery, Forres: 13-27 April
Dufftown and Aberlour Festival Information Hubs: 30 April- 4 May
Baxters of Speyside, Fochabers: 5-15 May
Elgin Library: 18-29 May
Buckie Library: 1-12 June
Aberlour Library: 15-26 June
Piping at Forres European Pipe Band Championships: 27 June
Scotch Whisky Experience Visitor Centre, Edinburgh Royal Mile: 6 July- 28 August
The public can view and vote for images online at http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/photography_competition
With almost 400 events over the five day festival, there will be lots to do and see across the region during Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from April 30 to May 4, 2015. Visit www.spiritofspeyside.com to buy tickets and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside.
