Snettisham photographer’s five shortlisted images in national award

Landscape Windy Day (Image: Archant)

Images by Bruce Ponder, from Bircham Road, Snettisham, feature in several categories in The Scottish Seabird Centre's nature photography awards.

Now in their ninth year, the awards attracted 435 entries from amateur photographers across the globe.

And more than 100 stunning images, including those taken by Mr Ponder, are now on display in the centre. From later next month, the public can vote for their favourites online at http://seabird.org/ until Sunday, February 22, 2015.

Mr Ponder, 70, a grandfather-of-ten, who works at the University of Cambridge, has entries in the World Flora, Worldwide Wildlife, and Landscape categories.

World Flora- Survival (Image: Archant)

He said: 'Survival was taken in Yellowstone Park in January; fine snow, high wind, about minus 10C.

'For Teasels at Dawn I was up early to see the winter pink footed goose spectacular at Snettisham RSPB when these teasels caught my eye by their bold pattern against the dawn.

'Aurora and Comet was taken on a frozen lake in north Sweden an hour after sunset.

'My other image in the landscape category was taken on a windy day on the broad expanse of Brancaster beach. The blowing sand, the white waves, the light and the silhouetted walkers all combine - I hope - to capture the scene.

World Flora- Teasels at Dawn (Image: Archant)

'For Pouncing Fox we had stopped for lunch at the top of the shore in a bay in Alaska when a movement in the grasses behind us alerted us to this fox.'

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick on Thursday, February 26, 2015.

Are you hrough to the finals of a national competition? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk

Worldwide Wildlife - Pouncing Fox (Image: Archant)