Celebrating Two Decades of Michigan Photography
The 2026 Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest marks twenty years of highlighting the natural beauty and local life within the Great Lakes State. This annual competition invites residents to submit original work, which is then reviewed by staff at The Detroit News and voted on by the public. This year, the contest recognized nine winners across three distinct categories: Candid Captures, Fur, Feathers and Flora, and Views and Vistas.
Contest entries highlight the variety of landscapes and experiences found throughout the state. From the quiet morning waters of Independence Township to the industrial backdrop of the St. Clair River, the selected images showcase both professional technical skill and the ability to find striking moments in everyday life. The longevity of this event reflects a deep interest in regional identity and the ways residents interpret their surroundings through a lens.
Judges and People’s Choice Selections
Selection criteria for the contest focused on technical execution and the ability of a photograph to evoke a specific sense of place. Andy Morrison, assistant multimedia editor at The Detroit News and a judge for the contest, highlighted the caliber of submissions during the final review. The process included a mix of expert selection and community participation, ensuring that the winners represented both professional standards and popular appeal.
In the Candid Captures category, Michael Damone received the Judges' Choice award for his image of a waterskier on a calm Independence Township lake. Meanwhile, the People's Choice award went to Chris Murray for his capture of spectators at the Howell Balloon Festival, which focuses on the reactions of the crowd rather than just the balloons themselves. Annette Primeau-Mac received an Award of Excellence for a photo taken at the Detroit Institute of Arts, noting the personal significance of her final museum visit with her late husband.
Nature and Landscapes Through the Lens
Nature photography remains a staple of the competition. Preston Rawls earned the Judges' Choice honor in the Fur, Feathers and Flora category for his image of a great blue heron hunting at Kensington Metropark. While the image initially appears to show a chipmunk, it documents a moment of predatory behavior in the wild. Rawls remarked that he understood the nature of the encounter, describing the event as the cycle of life within a public park.
Joseph Barnes captured an Award of Excellence in the same category for a macro shot of a jumping spider. Barnes emphasized the difficulty of maintaining focus on the spider's eyes during the session. The People's Choice winner in this category was Lauren Hiltz, who documented a sandhill crane family foraging for food in Milford. These images reflect the technical precision required for wildlife photography, from using specialized macro lenses to anticipating animal behavior in various weather conditions.
Cinematic Perspectives on Regional Vistas
The final category focused on the vast landscapes of Michigan. Brian Paprocki took the top honor for his long-exposure photograph of the Milky Way over the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. Paprocki utilized a smart telescope and specific lighting techniques to capture the detail of the lighthouse alongside the night sky. The image stood out to judges because of its vibrant contrast and the clarity of the stars.
Greg Falk received an Award of Excellence for his work titled Steel and Steam, which depicts a freighter moving through ice on the St. Clair River. Despite originally setting out to photograph eagles, Falk capitalized on the atmospheric conditions to document the industrial scene. Darcel Demyanovich rounded out the category as the People's Choice winner for his photo of morning fog lifting off the Detroit River. Looking ahead, organizers have already begun accepting submissions for the 2027 contest, encouraging photographers to continue documenting the state's evolving environment.