Scotland is one of the world's most exciting places to see incredible wildlife but every now and then someone comes along with a new perspective that shows it off in a completely unique way.
Glasgow-based Mark Kirkland, 37, is on a mission to do just that, capturing stunning photos of these beautiful animals - from beneath the waves.
Combining a decade-long passion for diving and photography, with that of a lifelong love of aquatic creatures, Mark has been exploring ways to create wonderful photos of them in their natural habitats.
"I just love being able to show people what we have in Scotland," says Mark, who posts the results on his Instragram account.
"You really do get some incredible images that stand out from the usual dolphins and turtles shot in tropical locations."
Though he admits it's not the easiest (or the warmest) to shoot photographs underwater, Mark believes it can be one of the most rewarding.
Speaking to the Daily Record , he added: "It's great showing other people here in Scotland, what we have in our seas. Particularly those people who are completely oblivious to just how rich the seas are around the Scottish coastline and across the UK."
A social worker by day, Mark loves nothing more than getting away from the city to find subject matter for his photographs and Scotland offers plenty of opportunities.
"I really enjoy the sense of adventure," he said. "You can be out in some really isolated areas, rugged coastlines, quite wild places really, and alongside the top side scenery, you come across some truly stunning places that you just wouldn't do on a normal trip."
Mark's passion for the sea and marine life came from holidays around Scotland in his youth, either rock pooling or fishing off the harbour with his dad but it wasn't until he was in his mid-20s that he decided to take up diving.
After a few years, he picked up a camera and it totally changed how he saw his diving trips.
"After a few years of diving, the creative streak in me led to me buying a camera and it totally transformed my hobby and how I viewed things under the water, I started to see things as photo opportunities", he explained.
"I can't remember the last time I dived without a camera."
Mark explained that Scotland's west coast in particular is ideal for underwater photography, due to the fact this wild coast is broken up with sea lochs and islands meaning there is a huge variety of habitats.
He said: "The same 1km stretch of coast can have three or four different habitats there, there's a huge variety, you've really got it all in Scotland."
One of his favourite places to shoot is Loch Leven up near Ballachulish, with its clear water and the spectacular backdrop of Glencoe.
However, when it comes to animals, he struggles to pick just one favourite.
"Well, one is definitely the octopus, it's a really photogenic creature but they are really elusive as well, I've been diving for ten years and I think I've only seen them four or five times. They are really iconic so as soon as I see one, I need to try and get a good shot of it."
But he's also a big fan of Basking sharks, with the world's second-largest fish holding a lasting appeal due to its size and majesty.
Mark added: "Every year they migrate up the west coast of Scotland and towards the end of summer they congregate in large numbers around the Isle of Coll, and the Isle of Tyree. Over the last five years, I've been up there three or four times to spend a week on the islands going out every day to photograph basking sharks it's an incredible experience."
And the other animal he loves to photograph? Surprisingly, these can be found a little closer to home in Glasgow.
The keen underwater photographer explained: "Frogs. They have become a wee pet project of mine over the last few years.
"Four years ago, I decided to try and capture them in their native habitat underwater as you don't really see many of those images. Every spring they come out from hibernation for a short time each year and it's difficult to time when they'll arrive.
"I was watching the weather forecasts, checking the temperature and trying to predict when they'll return to the ponds again, then I'll go down and spend a few nights in ponds around Glasgow to get shots of common frogs."
Incredibly, it's one of these shots that won him one of the most prestigious awards in the industry and international recognition in places like CNN, the BBC and even National Geographic.
After spending a total of 25 hours lying freezing cold in the rain at the side of a muddy pond in Glasgow at 1 am in the morning over five or six nights he was able to capture his prize shot of a frog beneath the water.
An image that he'd originally had in his head, he put an incredible amount of effort into it because he said he knew that if everything aligned he'd get a once in a lifetime shot, and thankfully, it led to him winning British Underwater Photographer of the Year for 2021.
After he won the award, he said: "I was shocked more than anything, there are some really really talented photographers in the UK and folk whose photography I really admire, I'd won awards before but this one was really significant. The feedback from the panel really blew me away and for the effort I'd made to be appreciated by other people is always nice."
You can follow Mark's adventures and buy prints of his incredible photographs on his website here.
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