Have you been out and about taking photos in the Hilltops?
Is there a winning photo hidden on your camera?
Is there a winning photo hidden on your camera?
Help us create a 12-month calendar celebrating life in the Hilltops — the seasons, the events and the everyday country life that make our region special.
Who can enter
Locals and visitors welcome. No age limits.
What to submit
Up to 2 photos per category. 1 landscape and 1 portrait photo.
Key dates
Open now. Closes 30 March 2026. Winners announced 15 April 2026.
Cost
Free entry.
Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will support the 2027 Art Trail.
How are photos used.
24 Winning photos will feature in a printed Hilltops calendar; All photos submitted will be used with permission and recognition by Hilltops Connect for ongoing marketing and promotion of our region.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for photographs that tell the story of the Hilltops across the year — the people, the seasons, the land, the events, and the everyday moments that make our region what it is.
This includes agriculture and working landscapes, local festivals and community gatherings, country towns and villages, and the quiet in-between moments of country life.
Photos can be taken anywhere across the Hilltops region, including Young, Boorowa, Harden-Murrumburrah and surrounding villages.
The feel we’re after is authentic, local and community-focused — honest images that reflect real places, real people and real moments, rather than staged or heavily edited shots.
Monthly Calendar Categories.
To help guide what photographs to submit, we’ve mapped out a theme for each month of the year. These themes reflect the seasons, agriculture, events and everyday life in the Hilltops.
Prizes & Recognition
This competition is about celebrating local photography and the stories of the Hilltops. The real win is seeing your work featured, credited and shared across the region and beyond.
Calendar Feature
A total of 24 winning photographs will be selected — two per month (one landscape and one portrait orientation). One overall winning image will be chosen for the calendar cover.
Photographer Credit
Each winning image will be credited with the photographer’s name on the calendar month page.
Photographers may also supply a QR code, which will be included on the month page and can link to your website, social profile or portfolio.
Extra Recognition
Winning photographers will receive additional exposure through:
- Mention and promotion as part of the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track 2027 fundraising and launch
- Calendars being sold from July 2026 to March 2027 including during the major 2026 Hilltops festivals.
- A featured story on Hilltops Connect
- Social media spotlights across Hilltops Connect, Hilltops Arts Inc, Young Society of Artists and Hilltops Off The Beaten Track platforms
Photo requirements
To ensure all entries are suitable for high-quality printing and fair judging, please read the photo requirements carefully before submitting.
File type & quality
Images must be submitted as JPG or PNG files, at a strong resolution suitable for quality calendar printing.
Both portrait and landscape orientations are encouraged.
Editing guidelines
Light editing is allowed (such as cropping, exposure, colour correction and contrast).
Heavy manipulation, composite images, or AI-generated imagery is not encouraged.
The emphasis is on authentic, real moments.
Number of entries
Entrants may submit a maximum of 2 photos per category —
1 landscape and 1 portrait orientation. There is no minimum.
When photos were taken
Submitted photos must have been taken within the last two years.
People & children in photos
If your image includes identifiable people, you must have their permission to submit the photo.
For children, permission must be provided by a parent or legal guardian.
You must also ensure they are aware that the photos may be used in ongoing promotion of the Hilltops region by Hilltops Connect and Hilltops Arts Inc.
Private property & locations
If your photo is taken on private property or within a business, you must have permission from the property or business owner to submit and allow use of the image.
Original work only
You must be the photographer and owner of the image you submit.
Submitting someone else’s work, or images you do not have the rights to, is not permitted.
Judging & what “winning” means
Entries will be judged on quality, authenticity and how well they capture the heart of the Hilltops and the needs of the calendar.
Winning images are not necessarily the most professional or technically complex — they are the photos that best reflect our region, seasons and community. Judges’ decision will be final.
Judging criteria & panel
Our judging process is designed to be fair, thoughtful and aligned with the purpose of the calendar — to showcase the Hilltops in an authentic and meaningful way.
Judging criteria
Photos will be assessed using the following criteria:
- Seasonal relevance
- Hilltops story and sense of place
- Composition and visual impact
- Originality
- Authenticity and community feel
It’s important to note that we are not simply looking for the most technically perfect or professional image.
We are looking for photographs that genuinely capture the heart of the Hilltops and suit the storytelling needs of the calendar.
Judging panel
Entries will be judged by a small panel with strong ties to the local arts, culture and community:
- Christine Burnett — President, Hilltops Arts Inc
- Heather Ruhl — Publicity Officer, Young Society of Artists Inc
- Sharon Smithers — Bees To Honey Marketing; creator of Hilltops Connect and Hilltops Off The Beaten Track platforms
Public voting
There is no public voting component for this competition.
All decisions are made by the judging panel to ensure consistency, fairness and alignment with the overall calendar visionof the judging panel.
Important dates
Please note the key dates below so you don’t miss your opportunity to enter or follow the journey of the calendar.- Entries open: Now
- Entry deadline: 30 March 2026
- Finalist notification: 9 April 2026
- Winners announced: 15 April 2026
- Calendar release: By 1 July 2026
Proceeds from the sale of the printed calendar will support the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Art Trail 2027, helping to celebrate and promote local artists, creatives and cultural spaces across the region.
Why this calendar matters
This calendar is more than a collection of beautiful images — it’s a way for our community to come together and support the future of arts and culture in the Hilltops.
Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will directly support the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Art Trail 2027, helping cover the real, behind-the-scenes costs that make a region-wide event possible.
This support contributes to practical needs such as printing and promotion, showcasing artists and venues, and strengthening community-led arts initiatives across Young, Boorowa, Harden-Murrumburrah and surrounding villages.
The calendar is a collaborative project proudly delivered by Hilltops Arts Inc, the Young Society of Artists and Hilltops Connect, working together to celebrate place, people and creativity in the Hilltops.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must have permission from the people in the photograph to submit it into the competition. They must also be aware that the photo may be used by the organisers for ongoing promotion of the Hilltops region.
Yes, visitors living outside the region are welcome to participate but all photographs must have been taken within the Hilltops.
Photos must be high-resolution and suitable for quality calendar printing.
• Minimum 3000 pixels on the shortest side
• 300 DPI preferred (or highest quality available from your camera/phone)
• JPG or PNG format
• No screenshots or heavily compressed files
Winners will be contacted by phone or email on 9 April 2026.
Yes, you may enter a maximum of 2 photos in each 12 monthly categories. 1 landscape image and 1 portrait image in each category.
You must repeat submitted photos. Eg an entry in the March category should not be submitted into another category.
There is no minimum number of entries. Eg. if you only want to enter one image for one month that is fine.
Photos submitted should not be more than 2 years old.
Your photo will be credited with your full name and town. In the calendar you may provide a QR for linking to website or professional social media accounts. If you would like this option, please let us know and send us your QR code as soon as possible and before the calendar is designed and printed. This is your responsibility.
Please contact us by text message to Sharon on 0409044199 leaving your name and number.
Ready to enter?
Every entry helps showcase the Hilltops and support the 2027 Art Trail.
Hilltops Connect is fuelled by the support of the following businesses and organisations
