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Question: What do A-list actors Samuel L Jackson and Keira Knightley have in common with home grown Scottish talent such as singers Paulo Nutini and KT Tunstall - and even Glasgow Airport hero John Smeaton?

Answer:  Iconic images of each are among those competing to win the Celebrity Picture of the Year in the First ScotRail Press Photography Awards. 

The category has attracted 320 entries - a 23 per cent rise on the previous year, perhaps reflecting the public’s massive appetite for the celebrity factor.

Other featured include football star Ronaldinho, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, current affairs supremo Jeremy Paxman and opera singer Katherine Jenkins.  Ronaldinho will be in Glasgow later this month as Barcelona meet Celtic in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Almost 3,000 photographs from over 200 photographers across Scotland have been submitted in all categories for scrutiny by the judging panel.

The prestigious awards have achieved ‘must enter’ status since they were resurrected by First ScotRail in 2005.

Mary Dickson, managing director of First ScotRail, said:  “We’re pleased that so many top photographers have taken the time to enter.   Competition is tough. It’s going to be difficult to choose the winners.”

The shortlist will be announced later this month, with the awards ceremony to be held in Glasgow at the end of March.

www.scottishppa.com