An amateur photographer from Scotland owes his victory in the BBC's Countryfile calendar competition to his son, who convinced him to leave his warm bed on a cold night to capture what would become an award-winning image. John Rae, 64, from Larbert, heeded his son's call and photographed a breathtaking shot of the famous Frandy Tree in Glendevon, Perthshire, illuminated by the spectacular aurora borealis dancing across the night sky.
The BBC Countryfile photographic competition has been running annually since 1998, inviting amateur photographers across the United Kingdom to submit their finest wildlife, landscape, and nature photographs. The competition specifically excludes professional photographers, focusing instead on budding enthusiasts and hobbyists. Each year, 12 winning photographs are selected to feature in the beloved Countryfile Calendar for the following year, with all proceeds from calendar sales benefiting BBC Children in Need.
Over its 27-year history, the calendar has raised more than 33 million pounds for the charitable cause. This year's competition attracted an impressive 17,000 entries from photographers throughout the UK. John's striking image, which he titled "Aurora Arbor-ealis," was selected by both public vote and Countryfile judges as the cover photo for the 2026 calendar, earning him the top prize.
However, John's path to victory was nearly derailed by an unusual case of mistaken identity. His name, which he shares with a professional photographer also from Larbert, almost cost him his title, his prestigious place on the calendar, and the 1,500 pound prize money when the BBC conducted background checks. "I got through to the last 250 entries," John explained. "Then when I was watching Countryfile I found my photograph was in the last 12 and would appear in the calendar."
A distinguished panel of judges, including veteran presenter John Craven, wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin, and Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, selected John's photograph as the overall winner to grace both the front cover and interior of the Countryfile 2025 calendar. Unfortunately, in John's moment of triumph, an administrative complication arose when the BBC mistakenly believed he was actually a professional photographer.
The confusion stemmed from the existence of another John Rae from Larbert who works as a professional photographer. The retired amateur photographer had to prove to the BBC that he was not his professional namesake. "They asked for all my social media details," he said. "I actually know John – his studio is at the bottom of the road where I stay." Thankfully, the BBC's thorough verification process uncovered the truth, and John's victory was confirmed when he appeared on last weekend's Countryfile program, speaking with presenter John Craven.
The winning photograph might never have been taken if not for John's son Steven, who initiated the sequence of events that led to the major victory. Steven convinced his father to venture out and photograph the night sky after receiving an alert that the Northern Lights would be visible. "It was about 11:30 pm when he called saying he had an alert about the aurora borealis," John recalled. "I told him I was in bed, but I eventually decided to head out to Glendevon with him and we got some photographs – including the one of the Frandy Tree that won the competition."
In recognition of his son's crucial role in the victory, John announced that he would split the 1,500 pound prize money with Steven. However, there's one condition attached to this generous gesture: the entire amount must be spent on photographic equipment. This requirement ensures that both father and son can continue pursuing their shared passion for capturing the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
