The winning photograph for January is by Jilly Noble. Jilly’s photograph shows a scene familiar to many in the city – the view from Union Bridge, looking roughly North West. Hundreds of busy Aberdonians cross Union Bridge every day, intent on their quotidian tasks, and some will take a moment to glance at the prospect offered by this open space in the city centre.

In recent years, this area has figured prominently in local news as discussions centred on what to do with “the gardens”. In my lifetime, Union Terrace Gardens had declined from a bustling centre for recreation on the part of the citizens to a rather dubious, slightly worn out, past its best, area. Some controversy had, at times, attended upon certain proposals for redevelopment. Last year, saw the conclusion of extensive works aimed at restoring the area, and some of the changes are seen in Jilly’s atmospheric photo.

There is much to admire in Union Terrace, Rosemount Viaduct and Belmont Street. The Terrace has some of Aberdeen’s most impressive granite architecture. Belmont Street is no less impressive, in its own right, with modern redevelopments jostling with traditional architecture. Rosemount viaduct has a claim to possess one of our most striking streets with its trio of Aberdeen City Library, St Mark’s Church and His Majesty’s Theatre - known to most (if not all) as education, salvation and damnation. Each of these buildings is important in its own right, but there is not time or space in this article to do justice to them.

What we liked about Jill’s photograph was the combination of the gardens and built environment. The “atmosphere” of the scene - that of cold, frost and twilight - the gloaming - has been beautifully captured.

If you’re interested in learning more about each one of our images as part of our photography competition, then why not take a look at one of our previous submissions here.