HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
The Texas Hill Country is a beautiful region filled with diverse wildlife, clear springs, sprawling rural landscapes, historic towns and some of the starriest night skies in the country. With a rapidly growing population and increasing development coming into the region, many of these special qualities are at risk of being lost. Each year the Hill Country Alliance holds a photo contest encouraging photographers to capture features of the Texas Hill Country they would like to protect forever.
This year, the 2024 Hill Country Alliance Photo Contest received more than 550 entries with head-turning submissions, ranging from enchanting wildlife to wide open fields of abundant wildflowers. The final four winning photographs were selected by a panel of judges and are featured in HCA’s popular 2025 Texas Hill Country Calendar, available now on the HCA website.
Above, the Grand prize-winning photo by Jesus Corona titled “Sunset.” Below, first runner up photo by Gary T. Ray titled “Gruene Nights.” Photos courtesy of Hill Country Alliance
Sunsets took the spotlight, receiving both grand prize and the first runner up awards. Grand prize-winning photographer Jesus Corona submitted “Sunset” an idyllic shot of a field of wildflowers in the setting sun in Bexar County, while Gary T. Ray’s “Gruene Nights” took home first runner up for a brilliant pink sky over the lively small town. No matter where you live, sunsets captivate us with their vibrant colors and ephemeral beauty, reminding us of the natural world’s wonders. However, just as a sunset is fleeting, the health of our region can also be precarious. This balance is particularly evident in current drought conditions, and HCA’s water program is focused on protecting our most delicate resources – like clear, flowing waters and the natural infrastructure we rely on to keep springs bubbling.
Bill Weekley’s “Danger in the Wildflowers” – a close-up on a rattlesnake in Kerr County - took second runner up and third prize went to Mike Zarella for “Gray Fox up a Tree,” taken in Blanco County. So much of the photography submitted in this annual contest reminds viewers of their own connection to the region’s delicate web of life. This urgency underscores the importance of the HCA’s work to advance local land stewardship and conservation efforts that directly benefit the wild creatures and open spaces of the Texas Hill Country.
In addition to these photo contest winners, the Hill Country Alliance would like to recognize the following contestants whose photography is featured in the 2025 Hill Country Calendar: Airon Mothershed, Alan Zhou, Ashley Campbell, Aspen McCallum, Baba Arimilli, Carol Serur, Carolyn Whiteside, Daniel Gomez, Delaney Kempf, Donna Chance, Elvis Canoy, Gary Sertich, Jackies Wise, Jacob Saunders, Jeff Newton, Jennifer Bauerkemper, Jess Brown, Joseph Richards, JP Sanchez, Katherine Carvajal, Kim Smith, Lisa Hood, Matthew Guthrie, Meghan James, Michael Tidwell, Michael Wight, Nicky Scott, P. Michael Jones, Patty Robertson, Paul Huchton, Shelby Sckittone, Steffen Baumgart, Stephen Isenhower and Tim Speer. William Shelton won the People’s Choice Award.
HCA’s annual Texas Hill Country Calendar features stunning photography from the prior year’s photo contest, highlights the beauty of the region and provides an informative resource on Hill Country conservation. Both the photo contest and the calendar aim to highlight the beauty of the region, provide an informative resource on Hill Country conservation and inspire folks to learn more and become involved in the issues important to keeping the natural resources of this unique region intact.
The Hill Country Alliance is a nonprofit organization that brings together a diverse coalition of partners to preserve the open spaces, starry night skies, clean and abundant waters and unique character of the Texas Hill Country. Visit the website at hillcountryalliance. org.
Above, second runner up photo by Bill Weekley “Danger in the Wildflowers.” Below, third runner up photo by Mike Zarella “Gray Fox up a Tree.” Photos courtesy of Hill Country Alliance
