We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Green Foothills Photo Contest. This year’s theme was “Picture Yourself Outdoors,” and we requested photos that showed people interacting with nature. Thank you for sending in so many inspiring photographs. Congratulations to Andrew Pierce, Jeff Regan, and Kyrod Myatt – this year’s winners!

A number of photographers also won Honorable Mentions, and they are listed below.

The Winning Photos: Dreamlike, Stunning, Serene

First place winner Andrew Pierce submitted this dreamlike image taken at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. Its lyrical beauty evokes an Andrew Wyeth landscape. The first place prize is a customized Nature Tour for 5 at a date and location of his choosing with expert guide Craige Edgerton, as well as an annual subscription to Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

In second place is Jeff Regan’s stunning portrait of two children wading in the waves as the sun sets over Francis Beach in Half Moon Bay. He will receive a Green Foothills Swag Bag and $100 in Carrot Cash to be used at any farmers’ market operated by Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA).

And in third place is Kyrod Myatt’s serene image of a hiker looking out from the trees at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. He will receive a $40 Pie Ranch gift card.

Our Honorable Mentions: Worthy of Praise

We received many beautiful photos this year, and it was hard for our judges to choose just three winners. A number of submissions that did not receive an award displayed images ranging from the stirring to the playful and were deserving of honorable mention. Keep an eye out for them as they will be posted on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn feeds over the next few months.

The photographers who received honorable mention include Yeela Bronicki, David Burckhard, Summer Che, Shell & Cass Cleave, Robert & Maggie Cooney, Bart Devries, Anushka Drescher, Michael Pagano, Leah Rondeau, Esperanza Sanz, Hrishikesh Sathawane, Carolyn Straub/Steve McHenry, and Nannette Wilkinson.

Each photo entry truly brought our local natural world to life. All photos that were submitted will help us provide a powerful visual when we communicate the importance of a resilient region where wildlife thrive, everyone has natural beauty to enjoy, and communities live in balance with nature.

Congratulations again to our three winners, and thank you to everyone who entered!