Calendar Contest & Reception
2026 Calendar Photo Contest
Calling all amateur, youth, and professional photographers! Each year the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust holds a photography contest for photos of the Sutter Buttes and surrounding region to be featured in our 12-month Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust Calendar — a tradition many folks in the area look forward to, produced for over 20 years.
This year’s contest is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who entered! Our winning photos are featured below. We are always accepting submissions for next year — fill out the Photographer Submission and Release Form any time.
We need your photos!
Every year we receive hundreds of fantastic photos of the Sutter Buttes and surrounding areas. Each month highlights our unique area, with photos taken within Sutter, Yuba, and Colusa counties. All submissions are judged for originality, expression, quality, and location. Each month features a full-page photo, and all featured photographers receive full recognition as well as complimentary calendars.
What to photograph
- The Sutter Buttes
- Farmers, ranchers, and farming activities
- Native fauna and flora
- Geological features
- Waterfowl habitats
- Unique natural or weather aerials or landscapes
- Agricultural heritage or landscapes
Submission requirements
- 1. Photos should be 8½” x 11” in landscape (wide, not tall) orientation, at a minimum of 200–300 dpi. Larger photos will be cropped at our discretion. Portrait and panorama images are accepted if you consent to cropping to landscape (some of the photo will be lost).
- 2. Name image files: Last name_calendar_number (1, 2, 3, etc.).
- 3. Include a signed non-exclusive license release form.
- 4. Please do not email photos. Email info@sutterbutteslandtrust.org and we’ll send you a Google Drive link with your name for upload.
Tips for a successful submission
Images are selected by a photo selection committee.
- 1. Subtle editing, color saturation, and black-and-white are fine. Preference is given to more natural-looking photos.
- 2. Label your photo with your name and location.
- 3. Submit up to 5 images.
- 4. Do not send large files by email — our server will reject them.
Compensation
- 1. Calendar cover photograph: two complimentary calendars, 2 tickets to our annual Kick-off Party, a gift certificate for one open hike, and recognition.
- 2. Full-page photograph: one complimentary calendar, a gift certificate for one open hike, and recognition.
- 3. All featured photographers are invited to the Photographer’s Reception.
Download your forms here
Questions? Call (530) 755-3568 or email info@sutterbutteslandtrust.org. Please add our email to your contacts so our updates reach you.
The Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust
All photographers included in the calendar are invited to the Photographer’s Reception in the late summer or early fall at the Sutter County Museum. The evening includes the official unveiling of the new calendar and a chance for photographers to showcase their selected photo during an extended exhibition.
Exact date to be announced.
Photos of the 2027 Calendar
The 2027 calendar is filled with beautiful photos from local residents. This year’s submissions brought a great variety of photos and brand-new photographers, and this year’s cover photo is by award-winning photographer Royce Fonseca. Thank you to all our contributing photographers — we so appreciate you!
“A Golden Evening in Sutter County”
Photo © Royce Fonseca
Royce Fonseca is a professional photographer, videographer, and FAA-certified drone pilot, native to the area where her children grew up and graduated.
An avid outdoorswoman, world traveler, and breast cancer survivor, she captures authentic, meaningful moments through digital and aerial imagery.
Her work spans landscapes, portraits, commercial projects, and weddings, with a creative approach rooted in connection, storytelling, and intention.
“Sea of Fog”
Photo © Meghan Worrell
Meghan Worrell is a Yuba Sutter local born in Nevada County and is spending her life exploring what Northern California has to give. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast who believes life is best lived outdoors with your toes in the grass and dirt on your hands.
She enjoys hiking, backpacking, yoga, volunteering with Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes, concerts, and photography. She also aspires to hike the Pacific Crest Trail someday!
“Misty Sunrise”
Photo © Patricia Ransdell
Patricia Ransdell grew up on the outskirts of Yuba City and graduated from Sutter Union High School. She developed an interest in photography as a teenager and picked it up again as a seasoned adult, with the Sutter Buttes remaining one of her favorite subjects to photograph.
“North Butte, South Slope”
Photo © Melanie Truan
“I am an ecologist by training, but an artist at heart. Photography allows me to marry these two great passions. I am particularly fascinated by the Sutter Buttes, their setting, geology, and history. Whether hiking in intimate settings or viewing from a distance, they always offer beautiful and compelling subjects to photograph.”
“Mountain Meadow”
Photo © Easter Seals
Easter Seals is a community-based program that focuses on integrating individuals into the community. Staff member Jackie Brown supported the Easter Seals team during community outings, helping them participate and enjoy this great experience in the Sutter Buttes. The team all helped contribute by gathering these pictures.
“Sunset Solace”
Photo © Leah Hutton
Leah Hutton is currently a junior at CORE Charter School in Marysville, where she has been taking digital photography for three years. Leah has also enjoyed taking dance classes for nine years, and is presently enrolled at In Step School of Dance in Loma Rica. She would like to combine these two interests and specialize in dance photography, as well as portrait photography. She is also fond of hiking, camping, and nature.
“West Butte Schoolhouse”
Photo © Rae Lerche
Rae Lerche, having grown up in the Midwest, has a love for capturing images of rural landscapes, history, and lifestyles.
“Prickly Buttes”
Photo © Daisy Aguilar
Daisy Aguilar is a wife, mother, and evidence technician who loves capturing authentic, in-the-moment photos. As the owner of Daisy Aguilar Photography, she focuses on creating images that tell real stories and preserve meaningful memories.
She enjoys documenting life as it unfolds, finding beauty in candid moments, and turning everyday experiences into lasting memories.
“Hallwood View”
Photo © Alan Paschal
Alan Paschal – Local photographer lucky enough to live in such a picturesque region.
“Sunset Reflections”
Photo © Robert Lowe, M.D.
Robert Lowe is a retired physician and avid photographer from Nevada City. “Winter and spring are my favorite seasons around the Sutter Buttes.
The rice fields and wildlife preserves are flooded, the migratory birds are arriving, and sunsets can be spectacular with a broad range of colors from sublime pastels to fiery reds and oranges.”
“Morning Light at Gray Lodge”
Photo © Kathy Triolo
Kathy Triolo is a Nevada City based photographer and digital artist. She is a 2018 winner of the Golden Bear, Best in Photography, California State Fair. Kathy is retired as a Marriage and Family Therapist and is happily immersed in photography and fine art.
Her photography has been accepted to the PBS KVIE Art Auction every year since 2020 and her work has been featured in multiple calendars, including Bodie and the Sutter Buttes on a regular basis.
“Chorus of Wings Above the Sutter Buttes”
Photo © Jonathan Beth
Jonathan Beth, drawn to nature since childhood and trained in oil and watercolor painting, brings an artistic eye for light, color, and form to Northern California’s foothills.
His work has been exhibited throughout California, featured in Northern California magazines, and appeared on the cover of Nevada County Gold magazine.
A Nevada County Camera Club member and multi-award winner, Jonathan transforms everyday moments into lasting art — one frame at a time.
“Haze”
Photo © Jill Leff
“I ride my bike over these roads many of days. As the seasons change so does the landscape.”
“Meridian Bridge During Sunset”
Photo © Alexandra Craig
“I am a photographer, mother, wife, and outdoor enthusiast who spends much of my time exploring nature. Drawn to natural light and open spaces, I capture scenes from unique, grounded perspectives that reflect how I experience the outdoors and the world around me.”
A benefit of membership
We are no longer offering retail sales of our annual calendar. Instead, the calendar is a benefit of becoming a member, helping fund our work to protect and preserve the natural landscapes of our region. Join today to receive your calendar, while supplies last.