Wish You Were Here contest winners

Jura malt whisky has announced the winners of its worldwide photography competition, run in partnership with VisitScotland, to find the world’s most inspiring places.
 
Budding photographers from across the world were offered the chance to win an unforgettable trip to the island of Jura off Scotland’s dramatic West Coast, a once in a lifetime photographic experience on Jura with expert advice from National Geographic’s Jim Richardson, and an Olympus E-PL1 to capture images from their visit.
 
Three ‘inspiring moments’ were chosen from more than 3,000 entries over the course of 8 weeks. Malcolm McBeath from Kirriemuir in Angus, whose outstanding image of the autumn leaves at Glen Clova, along with its accompanying caption, has emerged victorious in the UK category. Malcolm will join the two other winners from New York and Italy for his prize-winning stay on Jura. 
 
Malcolm, 67, a retired pharmacist from Kirriemuir, captured his image of Glen Clova last autumn whilst walking by the small loch where he has spent much of his time since retiring.
 
Malcolm McBeath’s Winning Caption:
 
“Glen Clova, one of the beautiful Angus Glens, has been special to me for almost forty years. I have walked in it, fished in it, often with my family, and photographed it in all seasons and weathers. I have often admired these lochside silver birches.”
 
Commenting on both the image and his competition win, Malcolm said:
 
“I took this particular picture last autumn to capture the extraordinary palette of colours in the trees. As I was walking by the loch, the wind suddenly dropped and the reflections on the water were simply stunning. In one moment, it just seemed to sum up the affinity I have developed with Glen Clova from over forty years of visiting.
 
“I’ve always been interested in photography, but only since I retired have I been able to devote more time to it. For many years now I've been a member, and formerly the President, of the Dundee Photographic Society and also a member of the Royal Photographic Society, so as a hobby, photography is keeping me very busy!
 
“I’m absolutely delighted that my entry was chosen amongst the thousands of other entries. I can’t wait for my first visit over to Jura and the chance to improve my photography skills with help from Jim.”
 
Commenting on Malcolm’s winning entry, Jim Richardson said:
 
“The golden glow that washes over Malcolm’s image invites us to share the magic the photographer has felt in this place for forty years. In some ways it is a simple image, just trees and reflections. But there is more there, in the harmony of the colours, of the gentle roll of the hills, and the beckoning hillside. A quiet picture of a quiet scene that would be hugely rewarding to visit. Indeed, I wish I were there!”
 
The partnership between one of Scotland’s premier single malts and VisitScotland - the national tourism organisation – was launched during Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink where VisitScotland was using its worldwide marketing campaigns to inspire visitors to come to Scotland to experience the country’s food and drink.
 
Along with Malcolm, the other two winners of the competition are Frederika Kat from New York, whose image of three young performers in India won the panel’s vote for the North America category, and Marica Casolari from Italy who has won the Rest of the World category with her photo of a hot air balloon rising above the desert in Namibia.