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Great Lakes Photo Contest

2026’s Winning Photo
Sunset Reflection at Mariners Haven by Paula Zubek

2026 Monthly Winners – Finalists

May

"A Tapestry of Light and Water" by Jessica Middleton

June

"Sunset Reflection at Mariners Haven" by Paula Zubek

July

"As the Day Begins" by Ishaan Inamdar

August

"Ship on Lake Erie" by Charles Kish

September

"Weathervane looking over Lake Michigan" by Josh Mihaly

2025’s Winning Photo
Lake Superior Sunset by Evan Lanese

We want to share YOUR Great Lakes observations!

Get your gear, get out to the water, and send us your best photo from a day out somewhere in the Great Lakes watershed.

Contest Details:

  • Submit a photo to GLOS you have taken of the Great Lakes or a body of water within the watershed. 
  • When you do, you will be entered for a chance to be featured as Photo of the Month! 
  • It is important that the photo is yours, original, with a clear subject that is taken near, at, or in one of the Laurentian Great Lakes (bonus points if you find and photograph a data-collection buoy or other observing platform). 
  • Although your photo can certainly have humans in it, please do not send us photos of people who have not consented to having their photo taken or who would have issue with it being used for future GLOS purposes. 
  • Please do not submit any inappropriate or computer/AI-generated content.
  • It is preferred that your photo is from this year (2026), but we will accept photos as far back as Jan 2025.
  • When you submit, please include your full name and a caption for the photo and the time/date and place it was taken.
  • All entries must be submitted by the 20th of each month (photos submitted after the 20th will be considered for the next month).
  • Winning photos will be decided by GLOS staff. The winner will be emailed by the 25th and will be announced in that month’s newsletter. 
  • The contest will run for the 2026 months of May, June, July, August, and September.
  • Entries will be limited to one per contestant per contest month.

Each monthly winner will receive a GLOS swag bag and will also automatically be entered in the winners’ round where we will open the vote to the GLOS community to vote for the Photo of the Year from the five winning photos.

2025 Monthly Winners – Finalists

May

Lake Superior, just east of Au Train, MI on October 20th, 2025, by Evan Lanese.

June

Lake Michigan at Ludington, MI, on July 4th by Ann Swanson.

July

Miners Castle on Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Park, July 2025 by Michelle Hurley.

August

Sunset on Lake Erie by Aly Andersen, July 2025

September

'Ludington Sunset' in Ludington, Michigan, August 2025 by Sandi Bronsink.

The 2026 Photo Contest is closed to new submissions. Hold onto any amazing fall and winter photos you may take around the Great Lakes, and make sure to share them when the 2027 Photo Contest begins on April 20, 2027.

GLOS