We asked for stunning photos of the yellow bus, and you delivered. From red rock deserts to snowy depots and joyful bus yards, see stunning shots of the yellow bus caught on camera. With 79 submissions for the 21st edition of School Bus Fleet’s annual photo contest, these eight were staff favorite entries for 2025.
School Bus Fleet's 2025 Photo of the Year Contest [PHOTOS]
WINNER: Ernie Ontiveros, Southern Express Bus Service - Goodyear, Arizona.
Taken last February in the Grand Canyon State, this school bus driver and area manager took high school students to a choir festival in northern Arizona. Ontiveros snapped this photo while the kids were on a short walk. “I took the photo because I wanted to finally capture the yellow bus against the red rocks that are found around Sedona. I enjoy trying to capture bus photos in the different scenery found (here),” he said.
Photo: Ernie Ontiveros
WINNER: Kevin Weiss, Coeur d'Alene School District - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
During a regular route, one Idaho bus driver pulled off on a beloved shaded section of the roadway to snap a picture of the fall trees. Moments later, a fellow bus driver came around the corner, resulting in the image captured. This was taken on St. Michelle Dr. near Courcelles Pkwy in Cour d'Alene.
Photo: Kevin Weiss
WINNER: Lorrie Smith, Rome, Georgia.
Michael Warner of Cobb County School District in Georgia submitted this photo a friend took when she spotted a stunning display of buses reflecting in a pond.
Photo: Lorrie Smith
HONORABLE MENTION: Elke Matthews, Jefferson County Schools - Charles Town, West Virginia.
Are school buses going to the birds? West Virginia school bus driver Elke Matthews saw this fine-feathered friend ready for a ride last school year during a layover. The bird continued to come back for a few weeks. Think it used Waze, or just winged it?
Photo: Elke Matthews
HONORABLE MENTION: Chris Schadler, Walton-Verona Independent Schools - Walton, Kentucky.
Schadler, a 2024 SBF Trailblazer, captured this snowy scene at the district’s transportation department building last January. While rows of parked buses and snow-covered lots can be a familiar backdrop for bus drivers and staff, it’s a behind-the-scenes view rarely glimpsed by students and parents.
Photo: Chris Schadler
HONORABLE MENTION: Jean "J.J." Bellemare, Bryan County Schools - Black Creek, Georgia.
According to this Georgia driver and CDL trainer, this May 2025 image, titled Coastal Sunrise, features one of the best spots to observe coastal Georgia scenery, something witnessed early in the morning while driving their route. Located on Mill Hill Road in Bryan County, Georgia's Strathy Hall subdivision, the image captures the driver’s assigned school bus against the Ogeechee River and its marshland.
Photo: J.J. Bellemare
HONORABLE MENTION: Nashawn Craig, Taylor School District - Taylor, Michigan.
Honoring Love the Bus Month this year, Nashawn Craig, assistant director of transportation & fleet, used his hands to literally display his love for the bus in this creative take in the parking lot of Romulus Senior High School. Craig is also the owner of 0312 Photography, capturing images of the yellow bus and beyond in the Detroit area. The name comes from the number of the bus he used to ride, now a bus he owns. Craig purchased it from the district when they retired it and uses it to promote school bus safety through PSAs and for food drives.
Photo: Nashawn Craig
HONORABLE MENTION: Bill Wen, Orange County Public Schools - Orlando, Florida.
This image was taken with a drone in December 2024 at the OCPS’ Pine Hills compound in Orlando. The district’s superintendent held a holiday gathering at the main administration office where each department was tasked with taking a photo representing them. Although a similar photo using buses to craft an image was featured in the district’s Love the Bus month event, “JOY” was selected for the holiday season, so they decided to use the same creative format. Hats off to a very creative fleet services team!
Photo: Bill Wen