A photographer who has taken thousands of images of Sir Antony Gormley's iron men on Crosby Beach says the stunning sculptures make the "perfect foreground" to capture the wonders of nature.
Ron Davies has been photographing Sir Antony's Another Place - featuring 100 iron sculptures modelled on the Sefton coast - since their installation in 2005.
He said the figures were "iconic" and when he headed to the beach to photograph them he always felt "like I've got company even if I'm on my own".
Mr Davies said the iron men blended in with the "drama" of nature, as he exhibits 20 of his images of the artworks - from sunsets, brooding storms and even the Northern lights - at the Atkinson in Southport.
Mr Davies, who said he had been taking pictures "his whole life" and ran the school photographic society at his high school, said:
"The Iron Men enrich the already beautiful Sefton coast, making a perfect foreground against which to capture the wonders of nature.
"From sunrises and sunsets to brooding storms, snowscapes and even the Northern Lights, every visit offers fresh opportunities for a photographer."
Twenty years on, Mr Davies said he still found the Iron Men "fascinating".
"They are iconic and often used to promote the area," he said.
"There is something about the silhouettes looking into the sea."
The 76-year-old, who lives a 10-minute drive from Crosby beach, said the "inspiring" artworks got him "thinking about life in general".
He added the installation, which covers a distance of nearly two miles (3km), attracts tourists from all over the world.
"I have met people who have travelled from Canada and Australia to see the Iron Men," he said.
Sefton cabinet member and journalist, councillor Peter Harvey, who has helped with the exhibition, said:
"After 20 years, the resilience, humour and solidarity of the Iron Men have proven their credentials as honorary Scousers.
"People's reactions to 'meeting' the iron men can be different - some playful, others more reflective.
"Many visitors have described how they relate to the figures' relentless struggle in a volatile, harsh world."
He added:
"Personally, I love how a generation of younger admirers - including my four children - have grown up alongside the iron men, embracing them into our community."
The free exhibition - entitled Men for All Seasons at The Atkinson - runs until 21 February.