A Forth Valley College Photography student has snapped up a national award for his stunning pictures.
Edgaras Borotinskas (32) from Bo’ness, a second year HND Photography student at Forth Valley College’s Stirling Campus, has won Student Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2016 as part of the Scottish Nature Photography Awards.
Students were asked to submit three images on the theme of Water. Edgaras's Portfolio is a depiction of water drops which he describes as Nature's Tears. The judges - Andy Hall, Richard Shucksmith and Niall Irvine – liked that his images were beautifully composed and simplified down to the essence of the theme.
Edgaras said:
"I am so happy and proud of this award. Last year I entered the Student category and when I was shortlisted, it motivated me to improve. Passion, motivation and dedication helped to do that. Taking pictures makes me happy and when other people like my work it doubles that.”
FVC Photography lecturer Brian Smith, said:
“This is fantastic news for Edgaras as he approaches the end of his final year of his HND with us. His natural instinct for an image, and his development of creativity and technique is well demonstrated in the work he is now producing and this award assuredly confirms this. The department and his peers congratulate him and are all immensely proud of this achievement.”
Colin Gunning, Curriculum Manager in FVC’s Department of Creative Industries, said:
“Edgaras is an incredibly committed Forth Valley College student and photographer, who is always keen to build his own skills and enhance the profile of the college through engagement with external clients. His efforts have paid off and I am delighted that his images have been recognised and appreciated by such a prestigious panel.”
The winning images from all ten categories will tour Scotland from July 2017 and will be published along with the shortlisted images in a Portfolio Yearbook in the summer. Details at www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com