Every year, the UC ANR Photo Contest invites our colleagues to pause, look closely and capture the world as they experience it – through landscapes, fieldwork, quiet moments in nature and scenes of daily life.
The 2025 contest brought in a remarkable collection of images that reveal not only technical skill but also the heart, curiosity and storytelling that define our community.
From agricultural vistas to snapshots of family and friends, each photograph reflects the mission of UC ANR to improve the lives of all Californians.
We proudly recognize the winning images and honorable mentions across all categories.
Agricultural Landscape
This category captured the distinct textures of California’s working lands.
- 1st Place: Haramrit Gill
- 2nd Place: Haramrit Gill
- 3rd Place: Pam Kan-Rice
- Honorable Mention: Scott R. Oneto
Gill’s two winning plant entries display a mastery of perspective, while Kan-Rice’s artichoke image highlights the natural intensity and contrast of a crop. Oneto’s Honorable Mention offers a fresh perspective on the drama of raising cattle.
Nature
In the Nature category, photographers captured moments of stillness, motion, light and wonder.
- 1st Place: Amber Butland
- 2nd Place: Greg Ira
- 3rd Place: Amber Butland
- Honorable Mention: Shirley Velia Alvarez
Butland’s first-place and third-place images beautifully reflect the sky as an enduring complement to the earth, while Ira’s starry night photo leverages technical ability to inspire reflection. Velia Alvarez’s sunflower Honorable Mention captures the saturating warmth of a sunflower, rounding out a strong set of nature-inspired visuals.
A Day in the Field
This category celebrates the work of UC ANR – the hands-on learning, collaboration and real-world action that define our days in orchards, fields and research sites.
- 1st Place: Shirley Velia Alvarez
- 2nd Place: Nikolas Schweitzer
- 3rd Place: Simone Patterson
- Honorable Mention: Nikolas Schweitzer
The winning images from Alvarez captures the grit and grace of fieldwork. Schweitzer’s dual recognition – second place cattle and Honorable Mention – speaks to his eye for capturing authentic field moments. Patterson’s shot of basketful bounties preserves the pride of harvesting summer vegetables.
Family & Friends
A single category with a single winner – but one that always resonates deeply.
- 1st Place: Kaitlin Rebecca Zuwala
Zuwala’s photograph captures an intimate family moment filled with warmth, connection and awe, reminding us that community begins with the people closest to us.
Urban Landscape
California’s cities hold their own stories — full of contrast, architecture and movement. The Urban Landscape category highlights this dynamic energy.
- 1st Place: Breanna Pool
- 2nd Place: Shirley Velia Alvarez
- 3rd Place: Shirley Velia Alvarez
- Honorable Mention: Nel Thompson
Pool’s first-place image of a showy flower juxtaposed with the stoic Golden Gate Bridge anchors the category with its appreciation for California’s complexity, while Velia Alvarez’s photos of sunset at a ball field and irises lining a driveway are snapshots of her own connection to this state. Thompson’s Honorable Mention adds creative perspective to this collection.
Honoring Creativity Across UC ANR
This year’s submissions for the 2025 Photo Contest – from sweeping landscapes to intimate portraits – affirm the diverse perspectives that make UC ANR such a vibrant community.
Congratulations to all winners and honorable mentions. And thank you to everyone who submitted an image – your creativity brings the mission of UC ANR to life in powerful and inspiring ways!