Cupertino photographer Jean Zuo’s majestic image of a California Black Bear and Kokanee Salmon at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center took the grand prize and became the 2024 California Wildlife Photo of the Year. The contest is sponsored by California Watchable Wildlife, Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Zuo started to focus on photography in 2017. During the pandemic, wildlife photography elevated itself from a hobby to a peaceful sanctuary for the mind.
“In October of 2023, my family took me to Lake Tahoe. That was my first time visiting Taylor Creek, and capturing its remarkable wildlife. I photographed the California black bears and Kokanee salmon; it was truly a privilege and one of my most memorable experiences. Winning the Photo of the Year is an honor.”
California Watchable Wildlife and California Department of Fish & Wildlife launched the contest to acknowledge photographs that illustrate the state’s diverse wildlife and the viewing experience found throughout its natural and wild lands. For the contest, a panel of judges critiques each photograph based on creativity, technical excellence, overall impact and artistic merit. Unlike other state-sponsored photo contests, this runs throughout the year with winners announced bi-monthly and featured on social media platforms and the CAWW website. The photo of the year is selected in December by CDFW Director Chuck Bonham.
Bonham said he considered each of 17 finalists an outstanding representation of what the state offers. He commended each of the photographers for their exceptional skill seen through a camera lens — from the technical to the artistic.
“The opportunity to choose the wildlife photo of the year is one of the perks of my job, even though it’s never easy,” said Bonham. “Jean’s photograph captured the raw beauty and life cycle connection between two species. The composition, lighting and timing reflected not only the technical excellence we look for, but also the deep respect for the natural world. It was a truly captivating moment.”
Zuo received a pair of Opticron DBA VHD+ 10×42 binoculars donated by Out of this World Optics, a two-night stay at Abbey House Inn and other prizes valued at $1,500. Leading up to the announcement, the top winning images from the 2024 contest were part of a week-long social media presentation.
The 2024 top finishers also included two winning entries selected by representatives from Sierra Nevada Conservancy (Northern River Otter, Lake Almanor, photographer Randy Robbins) and Out of This World Optics (Elegant Terns, Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve, photographer Mark Zimmerman).
Celebrating its 14th year, the California Wildlife Photo of the Year 2025 is officially under way. For more information on submission guidelines and to view past winners visit CAWatchableWildlife.org.
