31st Annual Lake Superior Photo Contest
Entries for the 31st annual contest are now being accepted. Photos must be submitted by October 13, 2025.
Share your favorite photo of the Inland Sea and its region. Lake Superior Magazine sponsors its annual Lake Superior Photography Contest honoring the best images submitted by our readers.
Winners will be published in Lake Superior Magazine’s February/March 2026 issue. Limited to no more than 10 entries per photographer. NO WATERMARKS, PLEASE. We cannot publish a photo with watermarks in it.
Enter below in any or all of our five categories: Nature, Lake/Landscape, People/Humor, Artsy/Altered and Maritime.
Prizes
Grand Prize: $200, a 2025 Lake Superior Wall Calendar, 1-year subscription to Lake Superior Magazine
5 First Prizes: a 2025 Lake Superior Wall Calendar, 1-year subscription to Lake Superior Magazine
5 Second Prizes: a 2025 Lake Superior Mini Calendar, 1-year subscription to Lake Superior Magazine
Honorable Mention: Certificate of Honor
Finalist: Certificate of Merit
The Rules
Welcome and thank you for considering an entry into our annual Photo Contest. Below you will find a few details about how and what to enter. All entries must be done online.
DEADLINE
Images must be uploaded online by October 13, 2025.
CATEGORIES
Images may be submitted in five categories – Lake/Landscape, People/Humor, Nature, Artsy/Altered and Maritime. A first- and second-place winner will be chosen in each category. A Grand Prize overall winner will also be chosen. Judges may change the category of an image. Honorable Mentions will also be published in the magazine and additional Finalists will be named and posted online.
Lake/Landscape – Images submitted in this category should show the broad view of a place within the Lake Superior region. The photographer should identify the location where the shot was taken and also the time of year, if possible.
Nature – Unlike the Lake/Landscape category, these images often reflect a more intimate look at the natural world. Photos of wildlife and flora are appropriate here.
People/Humor – Images in this category can be people interacting with the Lake or land in this region or can be portraits. Pet photos also fit into this category as do any whimsical views of life around the Big Lake.
Artsy/Altered – Images in this category generally have been altered after the photo was taken in a way that makes it no longer a "natural" image. All images submitted in this category MUST include a short description of how the photo was altered or taken. Sometimes an artistic composition might place an image into this category, such as detailed shots of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge metalwork.
Maritime – Images in this category must feature some aspect of the maritime industry and generally will include lake or ocean freight carriers. We encourage submissions early in this category as there will be additional judging with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
ELIGIBILITY
Photographers: Anyone is eligible EXCEPT regular paid photo contributors to Lake Superior Magazine, magazine staff members and their immediate families. We encourage the works of amateurs and also encourage entries from those who make less than 50 percent of their income through photography.
Images: Photos must have been taken in the Lake Superior region and nearby areas. Up to 10 images may be submitted. The entrant must hold all rights for the image submitted. (Please do not submit photos on behalf of others.)
Images that have already been published in magazines, calendars, etc. are not eligible. Self-published images or prints may be eligible, but please inform the judges of any such use. Images that have won or been honored in previous photo contests (ours or others') are not eligible. Images being submitted concurrently to any other contest this year are not eligible.
Images submitted previously to this or another contest that did not win a prize or honorable mention can be submitted.
Any images with recognizable people should have permission for submission from those in the photo, available to Lake Superior Magazine upon request.
Digital images may be submitted as a TIFF or JPEG with at least 300 dpi or higher and should be no smaller than 6 inches in width. Images must be sent electronically using the instructions provided. We no longer accept mailed entries.
Photos may be adjusted for color correcting or removal of dust spots, but should not be manipulated in other ways unless being entered in the Artsy/Altered category.
Altered images in other categories will be disqualified or moved to Artsy/Altered.
PERMISSIONS
By entering the contest, you are automatically conveying to Lake Superior Magazine, its affiliate publications and websites unlimited, nonexclusive publishing rights to each image submitted. Any uses beyond the Photo Contest and its promotion, however, will be negotiated separately. The photographer retains the copyrights to the image.
LIABILITY
Lake Superior Magazine is not responsible for any lost or misspent entries and the editors reserve the right to disqualify any photographs deemed unsuitable.
JUDGING
Judging will be based on overall clarity and technical quality with attention to composition, exposure, focus, color, creativity and subject matter.
PRIZES and AWARDS
The Grand Prize is $200, a one-year subscription to Lake Superior Magazine and a Lake Superior Wall Calendar. First Place prizes are a one-year subscription and a Lake Superior Wall Calendar. Second Place prizes are a one-year subscription and a Lake Superior mini calendar. All prize winners, including Honorable Mentions and Finalists, receive a Certificate.
Entry Instructions
Submissions may be made via email using the link below or by sending individual entries to lsmphotosubmission@lakesuperior.com (only one attachment per email, please). Images must be smaller than 10 MB in file size; larger files may bounce back.
Make your Photo Submission HERE by attaching to an Email
Please submit one image per email (maximum of 10), including complete contact and entry information:
Name Address Daytime Phone Email Website, if applicable Category Title Location If Artsy/Altered: How the image was made Submission number (e.g. 1 of 10, 4 of 10, etc.) Judges reserve the right to change images to appropriate categories. If you need help uploading or sending your images, contact us at edit@lakesuperior.com.
Winners will be announced in the February/March issue of Lake Superior Magazine.