Photos: Annual Peninsula Photo Contest Winners Announced

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Every year for 15 years the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District hosts a photography contest, allowing the public to submit up to three photos in the preserves.

After receiving over 200 submissions, the 2025 winners have been announced.

The categories are best photos in Wildlife, Landscapes, Plant Life, People in Nature, Trail Less Traveled and Aspiring Photographers.

The winners were chosen by the public through the Midpen social media accounts.

"The contest is a fun way for people using everyday technology, like smartphones and cameras, to connect with nature close to home," said Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz. "We hope people are inspired to explore their public open spaces, perhaps for the first time, and capture those moments of awe and wonder in nature."

Each category winner received a $100 REI gift card and a swag bag.

Landscapes Winner:

Hayden Hall from San Jose

"Driving through the clouds — that can describe many early morning drives on Skyline Boulevard. This particular morning in Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, the rapid transition from zero-visibility fog to open sky surprised me. I didn't notice a sign or warning. Hills and trees suddenly filled my peripheral vision when there was only opaque, white fog a moment before. Rushing with excitement, I searched for compositions as the fog continued to fall. My final image, a long exposure of Highway 35, celebrates the fleeting moments before the fog fully revealed the road. I'm lucky to live near the Santa Cruz mountains, and I need to spend more time there."

Trail Less Traveled Winner:

Pam Hansen from Los Gatos

"I run our open space trails every morning, and what I love about being in nature is feeling calmed and rejuvenated, and also, sometimes, completely surprised! This truck was one of those 'wow' moments! Its aging rusting paint and blending into the land by the surrounding plants growing through and over it caught my attention and my curiosity."

Plant Life Winner:

Robert Slate from Los Altos

"I do a daily five to six-mile hike in Rancho San Antonio Preserve. While doing a loop around the basin near the equestrian parking lot, I was amazed at the abundance of flowers on a coyote brush plant and wanted to capture the moment. I noticed a white-crowned sparrow (newly arrived for wintering in the area) that was well-camouflaged among the flowers. When taking a picture of something beautiful in nature, you may get an unexpected bonus on top of that!"

Other winners include:

Wildlife Winner: Don Vu from Saratoga

People in Nature Winner: Patrick Lundquist from San Jose

Aspiring Photographers Winner: Kyle Quan from Mountain View

Check out all the photos at openspace.org/stories/2025-photo-contest-winners.