The Scotsman’s Ian Rutherford could be crowned the top press photographer in Scotland for a record fifth time.

Ian is up against his Scotsman colleague Jane Barlow, Jeff Mitchell from Getty Images and the Press Association’s David Cheskin for photographer of the year in the First ScotRail Press Photography Awards 2008.

A record 3,100 entries were submitted over the 14 prize categories with 42 photographers and nine newspapers/magazines shortlisted.

Johnston Press’ Edinburgh-based trio of The Scotsman, Evening News and Scotland on Sunday feature 13 times in the shortlist.

Meanwhile, Newsquest’s Glasgow trio of The Herald, Evening Times and Sunday Herald are shortlisted seven times.

The Local photographer of the year category sees freelancers Brian Averell and Ian Jacobs pitted against Robin Bryden, of the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, and Gordon Fraser from the East Lothian News.

The public can now vote online at scottishppa.com to decide the winner of the 12 shortlisted images in the open category.

Judging panel chairman Ken Lennox said: “The judging panel has once again had the opportunity to view and shortlist some truly outstanding images across categories that reflect the rich tapestry of Scottish life.

“The images submitted for the features category were inventive, fun and well executed while some shots in the sport categories raised a smile and portrayed plenty of drama.

“The student category is also very strong. Clearly, entrants have worked extremely hard to pull together their submissions. Overall, entries have once again been of a very high standard, reflecting Scotland’s rich seam of photographic talent.”

The winners will be announced on 26 March in Glasgow.

The full shortlist is:

Photographer of the Year

David Cheskin, Press Association
Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman
Jane Barlow, The Scotsman
Jeff Mitchell, Getty Images

Picture Essay of the Year

Robert Perry, Scotland on Sunday
Jane Barlow, The Scotsman
Crawford Brown, Daily Record
Marc Turner, The Herald and Evening Times
Mark Runnacles, Daily Record
Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman

Features Photographer of the Year

Julie Howden, The Herald
Jane Barlow, The Scotsman
Phil Wilkinson, Scotland on Sunday
Jeff Mitchell, Getty Images

Sports Photographer of the Year

Andrew Milligan, Press Association
Tom Main, Freelance
Ian Macnicol, Freelance
Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman

Local Photographer of the Year

Brian Averell, Freelance
Ian Jacobs, Freelance
Robin Bryden, Dumfries and Galloway Standard
Gordon Fraser, East Lothian News

Young Photographer of the Year

James Glossop, The Times
Ben Begley, The Digger
Hollie McIntosh, Freelance
James Porteous, Freelance

Student Photographer of the Year

Eve Conroy, Metropolitan College, Glasgow
Jim Carroll, Stevenson College
Artur Drazkowski, Clydebank College
Claire Taylor, Metropolitan College Glasgow

News Picture of the Year

Phil Wilkinson, Scotland on Sunday
Ian Georgeson, Edinburgh Evening News
Wattie Cheung, Freelance
Kieran Dodds, Freelance

Sports Picture of the Year

Wattie Cheung, Freelance
Andrew Milligan, Press Association
Ian Macnicol, Freelance
Tom Main, Freelance
Mark Runnacles, Daily Record

Celebrity Picture of the Year

Lesley Martin, Daily Record
David Cheskin, Press Association
Crawford Brown, Daily Record
Jamie Simpson, Evening Times

Open Category

Javier Ternero, Freelance
Ian Macnicol, Freelance, 3 entries
Robert Paterson, Freelance
Thomas Mcdonald, Royal Navy
Brian Anderson, News of the World
Martin Shields, The Herald
David Moir, Reuters/Freelance, 2 entries
Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman
Chris McNulty, Freelance

Newspaper of the Year

Sunday Herald
Sunday Times Scotland
Daily Record
Scotland on Sunday

Magazine/Supplement of the Year

The Herald Magazine
Sunday Herald Magazine
Scotsman Magazine
Daily Record
The Scottish Sun
Scottish Field

First ScotRail Employee Photographer of the Year

Sian Broderick, Banffshire
Mark Graham, Johnstone
William Kingsbury, Lossiemouth, Moray
Roddy Macphee, Inverness
Allister Combe, Edinburgh