2018 Photo Contest Winners

This November, we challenged you to send in your favorite water snapshots for the 2018 Photo Contest, based on the theme “REFLECTIONS.” We’ve chosen three winners from a pool of incredible photos that represent the importance of Wisconsin’s waters in your lives!

“Summer Splash” | Menominee River
I took this photo on the Menominee River near McAllister, WI/Wallace, MI. I convinced my daughter to take the kayaks out with me and wanted to get her picture, but she was splashing me with the paddle instead. My family and I have a cabin on the river and spend most of our weekends in the summer there, most of it in or on the water, if it’s nice. I grew up on the river and we now live in Green Bay. The Menominee River  is imperiled by the recent permits approved by the MI DEQ for the Aquila “Back Forty” mining project. We are hopeful that the recent lawsuits and public backlash against the mine are successful in stopping it. It’s too beautiful to pollute. I work in the legal field but I also am an amateur photographer and writer, and the river and outdoors features in quite a bit of my work!
– Jill M., Green Bay

 

“Mirror Lake Morning” | Mirror Lake
Photo taken the morning of May 16th, 2018 at Mirror Lake State Park, Baraboo, WI
– Cliff N., Baraboo

 

“Calm After the Storm” | Wisconsin River
Photo was taken on September 2nd, 2018. After raining all day the sun started to peek out. I thought that there would be a chance of there being a rainbow on the river so as soon as the rain slowed down I went down to the river a few blocks away from my house. I did get a good photo of the rainbow, but it only lasted long enough for 2 pictures. Shortly after the rainbow disappeared, the clouds became more interesting so I took a panorama shot of the river. The location of the photo is a place I have been to hundreds of times in my life. From my early memories of running across the hot sand from the parking lot to the water to having my own kids throw rocks and splash in the water to taking pictures of the sunrise in the depth of a -15 degree winter morning. it has always been a great spot to enjoy the river.

I have lived along the river for my entire life and still enjoy taking a look each day and seeing what it is up to, as no two days are the same.
– Jonathan C., Sauk City

 

Runners Up

“Exploring the Lake Michigan shoreline in Door County” (Lake Michigan)
– Ryan S., Madison

“Oconomowoc Mirror” (Oconomowoc River)
This shot was taken on the Oconomowoc River just upstream of E. Kilbourne Road. Here there used to be a small flowage known as “Funks Millpond.” The dam has been removed and what remains is a very peaceful section of the river
– Aaron S., Lake Delton

“Spring in the Floodplain” (St. Croix River)
– Bill P., Afton, MN