Photo Contests

Washington Island and its surrounding islands are renowned for their beautiful landscapes, their abundant wildlife, and, of course, the extraordinary people and events that make them special. The Observer recognizes photographers and their photographs that capture these subjects with its annual photography contest.

The contest is judged by professional photographers and awards are given in three categories: landscape, wildlife, and people. The photographs have been taken on Washington, Plum, Detroit, or Rock islands or on Lake Michigan near these islands. Any photographer can enter up to three photographs in each category.
If you wish to participate in the annual photography contest, read the full details and rules by clicking the link provided here.

Photo Contest Rules 2022

Enjoy the photographs submitted below!

2020 Photo Contest

January 21, 2021 by Donna Fearing

The Washington Island Observer thanks all of the many subscribers who entered our third annual photo contest. You captured the beauty and mystique of being on and around our unique islands! The same as the previous years, there were so many fine photographs among the entries that the judges had a difficult time choosing winners for the three categories (People, Wildlife, Landscapes). We appreciate everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn’t win this year, please start taking photos for 2021. Congratulations to the Washington Island Observer’s 2020 Photo Contest winners:

People:
First Place: Sarah Zaske
Second Place: Kerri Sherwood
Third Place: Diana Nikolai
Honorable Mention: Gloria Small

Landscape:
First Place: Elizabeth Wallman
Second Place: Kay McClaren
Third Place: Michael Anderson
Honorable Mention: Mary Kramer

Wildlife:
First Place: Michael Anderson
Second Place: Monica Novak
Third Place: Duncan Petrie
Honorable Mention: Kerri Sherwood

First Place Landscape: Elizabeth Wallman

Honorable Mention Wildlife: Kerri Sherwood

2019 Photo Contest

January 21, 2021 by Donna Fearing

The Washington Island Observer thanks all of the many subscribers who entered our second annual photo contest. You captured the beauty and mystique of being on and around our unique islands! There were so many fine photographs among the entries that the judges had a difficult time choosing winners for the three categories (People, Wildlife, Landscapes). We appreciate everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn’t win this year, please start taking photos for 2020 as you enjoy the islands’ fall season. Congratulations to the Washington Island Observer’s 2019 Photo Contest winners:

Wildlife
First Place: Monica Novak
Second Place: Duncan Petrie (1)
Honorable Mention: Duncan Petrie (2), Christian Cornell (3), Vicki Rupiper (4), Megan Glowacz (5)

Landscape
First Place: Gloria Small (8)
Second Place: Jeannie Kokes (9)
Honorable Mention: Domani Tripam (6), Duncan Petrie (7), Tim Sweet (10), Joe Tripam (11), Rachel Schwandt (12)

People
First Place: Domani Tripam (13)
Second Place: Tim Sweet (14)
Honorable Mention: Sara Sorensen (15), Lucy Judy (16), Gloria Small (17)

First Place<br />
Photo ©2019 Monica Novak — First Place
Photo ©2019 Monica Novak

Honorable Mention<br />
Photo ©2019 David Harris — Honorable Mention
Photo ©2019 David Harris

Honorable Mention<br />
Photo ©2019 Tim Sweet — Honorable Mention
Photo ©2019 Tim Sweet

2018 Photo Contest

March 5, 2019 by admin

First-ever “You oughta be in pictures” contest draws 140 entries

The Washington Island Observer thanks all of the many subscribers who entered our first annual photo contest. You captured the beauty and mystique of being on and around our unique islands! There were so many fine photographs among the 140 entries that the judges had a difficult time choosing winners for the three categories (People, Wildlife, Landscapes). Therefore, in addition to publishing the winners in this issue, we will be featuring other notable photo submissions throughout the coming year. We appreciate everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn’t win this year, please start taking photos for 2019 as you enjoy the islands’ fall season. Congratulations to the Washington Island Observer’s 2018 Photo Contest winners:

PEOPLE CATEGORY
First place: Kate Griffin
Second place: Haley Buckmaster
Honorable mention: Amy Lesnjik

WILDLIFE CATEGORY
First place: Jean Francois Pipereau
Second place: Duncan Petrie
Honorable mention: Dennis McDonald

LANDSCAPE CATEGORY
First place: Jean Francois Pipereau
Second place: Tim Sweet
Honorable mention: Vicki Rupiper

People category, honorable mention: Amy Lesnjak
Judges’ comments: "We kept coming back to the baby photo. It is an unusual and a creative people pic. All the curves of the background material replicate the baby’s curvy legs. The sand on the feet is the reward. It tells a story." — People category, honorable mention: Amy Lesnjak Judges’ comments: "We kept coming back to the baby photo. It is an unusual and a creative people pic. All the curves of the background material replicate the baby’s curvy legs. The sand on the feet is the reward. It tells a story."

People category, second place: Haley Buckmaster
Judges’ comments: "Love the gutsy “portrait’’ of this fearless girl on the edge of a bluff with her carefree focus on the dandelion. The water on the upper left balances out the subject on the lower right. The position of the head fills the dead space of the bluff. Beautifully proportioned." — People category, second place: Haley Buckmaster Judges’ comments: "Love the gutsy “portrait’’ of this fearless girl on the edge of a bluff with her carefree focus on the dandelion. The water on the upper left balances out the subject on the lower right. The position of the head fills the dead space of the bluff. Beautifully proportioned."

Wildlife category, first place: Jean Francois Pipereau
Judges’ comments: "We really liked this photograph the moment it arrived. The chance formation of seagulls, yes seagulls, is unusual. Symmetry is commonly associated with larger waterfowl like geese. We don’t think this photo can be improved. Head positions are aligned, wings are perfectly feathered. It simulates a photo sequence of a seagull taking off. No doubt the photographer is pinching himself about this one.” — Wildlife category, first place: Jean Francois Pipereau Judges’ comments: "We really liked this photograph the moment it arrived. The chance formation of seagulls, yes seagulls, is unusual. Symmetry is commonly associated with larger waterfowl like geese. We don’t think this photo can be improved. Head positions are aligned, wings are perfectly feathered. It simulates a photo sequence of a seagull taking off. No doubt the photographer is pinching himself about this one.”

Wildlife category, second place: Duncan Petrie
Judges’ comments: "Another shot where timing is everything. Squirrels are busy bodies that do not stay put in one spot long enough to pose. See how its body is framed in the open white spot between the trees? Nice. The image carries the viewer’s eyes even farther up. Considering the backlighting of the photograph, it was well salvaged." — Wildlife category, second place: Duncan Petrie Judges’ comments: "Another shot where timing is everything. Squirrels are busy bodies that do not stay put in one spot long enough to pose. See how its body is framed in the open white spot between the trees? Nice. The image carries the viewer’s eyes even farther up. Considering the backlighting of the photograph, it was well salvaged."

Wildlife category, honorable mention: Dennis McDonald
Judges’ comments: "There’s lack of color and quality in this print, but it doesn’t matter. The parade of hungry seagulls guiding the fishing tug into harbor screams Washington Island. A meaningful pic for anybody’s wall. The name of the vessel is barely visible — Seediver." — Wildlife category, honorable mention: Dennis McDonald Judges’ comments: "There’s lack of color and quality in this print, but it doesn’t matter. The parade of hungry seagulls guiding the fishing tug into harbor screams Washington Island. A meaningful pic for anybody’s wall. The name of the vessel is barely visible — Seediver."

Landscape category, first place winner: Jean Francois Pipereau
Judges’ comments: "WOW. What a beautiful night. Jean Francois Pipereau captured summer. With great camera equipment, a tripod and a longer exposure, the photographer was able to present the viewer an amazing panorama of the sky above Sailor’s Pub in Detroit Harbor. The photo carries a diminishing afterglow of the sunset and some clouds in the night sky. A bit of over exposure on the lower left is nearly impossible to correct. Well done. Hope it inspires hobbyists to toss iPhones and invest in a DSLR." — Landscape category, first place winner: Jean Francois Pipereau Judges’ comments: "WOW. What a beautiful night. Jean Francois Pipereau captured summer. With great camera equipment, a tripod and a longer exposure, the photographer was able to present the viewer an amazing panorama of the sky above Sailor’s Pub in Detroit Harbor. The photo carries a diminishing afterglow of the sunset and some clouds in the night sky. A bit of over exposure on the lower left is nearly impossible to correct. Well done. Hope it inspires hobbyists to toss iPhones and invest in a DSLR."

Landscape category, second place: Tim Sweet
Judges’ comments: "Creative composition lending the observer “eyes’’ from inside the Thordarson Boathouse on Rock Island. The photographer teaches us to see from the unexpected view. A medley of thick dark clouds, a peak of the sun and layers of snow-covered ice give it a solid perspective of the distant Jackson Harbor. The bonus is the bright white ice illuminating the inside of the arches." — Landscape category, second place: Tim Sweet Judges’ comments: "Creative composition lending the observer “eyes’’ from inside the Thordarson Boathouse on Rock Island. The photographer teaches us to see from the unexpected view. A medley of thick dark clouds, a peak of the sun and layers of snow-covered ice give it a solid perspective of the distant Jackson Harbor. The bonus is the bright white ice illuminating the inside of the arches."

Landscape category, honorable mention: Vicki Rupiper
Judges’ comments: "If you’re an Islander, a winter shot warms the heart. Another view of the fishing tug Seediver by a different photographer during a different season. The gentle gouache-like hoar frost in the trees truly boosts this image. It could be cropped a tad more on the right giving the vessel an illusion of “forward’’ progression. Couple of seagulls in tow is better than none." — Landscape category, honorable mention: Vicki Rupiper Judges’ comments: "If you’re an Islander, a winter shot warms the heart. Another view of the fishing tug Seediver by a different photographer during a different season. The gentle gouache-like hoar frost in the trees truly boosts this image. It could be cropped a tad more on the right giving the vessel an illusion of “forward’’ progression. Couple of seagulls in tow is better than none."

Contact us to sign up and participate in the upcoming island photo contest. Entries must be received by August 1st. Winners will be announced in September.

office@washingtonislandobserver.com