A Largs photographer has shown he is picture perfect after scooping top prize in a national competition.

Marco McGinty won over the judges with his stunning photo of a bee on gorse flowers, a shot he captured at a local nature reserve.

The competition, run by the Countryside Jobs Service, received hundreds of entries from enthusiastic amateur photographers working in the countryside and conservation sector.

Marco says he wanted to showcase in the shot the short but important contribution that bees make in nature.

He said: “I was visiting a local nature reserve to birdwatch and gather some invertebrate records, and I took a number of photographs to assist with any identification issues.

“I noticed a number of solitary bees flying around a particular gorse bush, so stood for a while to get some photos, and see if there was anything else to note in this spot.

“In my invertebrate photography, and indeed this particular image, at times I do like to include the creatures in their habitat.

“In-your-face close-ups can be particularly impressive, but sometimes I show invertebrates in their natural surroundings, giving a brief glimpse into their short, busy, but incredibly important lives.

“A second later, the bee had flown again. It's a relatively simple image which I hope does convey this to some extent.”

The judges were looking for photos taken by genuine countryside workers illustrating the highs and lows of countryside careers.

They said: “We all agreed that the colour of the gorse flower was eye-catching and harmonised nicely with the slightly darker honeyed tomes of the bee.

“The bee itself was perfectly placed in the corner of the image with every detail clearly visible.”

The competition is a chance to share images with others who have an interest but little practical experience or knowledge of working in the countryside and outdoor sector.