SOME of the finest scenes the county has to offer have been gathered together by VisitWiltshire as they reveal their shortlist of potentially award winning shots in this year's photographic competition.

Featuring 26 photographs from around the county, the shortlist features some of Wiltshire's best-loved views and sights, as well as some hidden corners of the county.

Photographers have spent the summer busily snapping away, in a bid to be named the best in the county and the chance to win a Nikon D3300 camera with 18-55 lens – worth over £300 – for the best photograph overall, put forward by Castle Cameras in Salisbury who have sponsored this year's competition. Castle Cameras has also provided two runner up prizes of a £50 gift voucher to spend at Castle Cameras.

Making the shortlist this year are two photographs of the sun low in the sky over Avebury by Chris Moody from Wroughton as well as two photographs from Anetta Zalewska from Westbury whose images of hay bales at the Westbury White Horse and the Cherhill White Horse both attracted the attention of VisitWiltshire.

An autumnal scene from Chris Donohoe from Swindon has also made the shortlist, while Gabi Watkins' sunset has also been selected.

Also making the judges' shortlist are two photographs from Gary Cox featuring a sunset and some exposed tree roots; cows grazing near the Westbury White Horse by Helena Chambers and a photographs of Salisbury Cathedral's iconic facade by Henk Leerink.

Also from the south of the county, the Wilton Windmill features in photographs from Ian Holloway and Simon Baker.

Simon also has six other photographs selected on the shortlists, with images of Avebury, Stitchcombe Hill, Rock Valley at Marlborough, Aldbourne, daisies, and the Cherhill White Horse also making the cut.

The beautiful colours of a sunset over a field captured by Max Barnes also feature, as does the reflection of an equally colourful sunset captured by Nick Smith.

Peter Connell captured a quiet day at the races, as well as as Silbury Hill in the snow, which also proved to be inspiring for Peter Daltrey, who captured the hill in sunnier weather along with a photograph of Stonehenge which has also made the judges' shortlist.

Walking out and about in the county has seen two of Tim Matthews' images selected too, with photographs of the journey on foot between Ford and Castle Combe and Castle Combe to Long Dean making up the final two images on the shortlist.

VisitWiltshire will now decide on this year's winner and runners up, with an announcement expected next week.