Native yellow sunflowers in a field

Parks & Trails Council

2023 Photo Contest

Minnesota Outline with SW corner blue

Southwest State Parks

 

STATE PARKS:
Big Stone Lake  |  Blue Mounds |  Camden |  Charles A lindbergh |  Father Hennepin |  Flandrau |  Fort Ridgley  |  Glacial Lakes |  Greenleaf Lake |  Kilen Woods |  Lac qui Parle |  Lake Carlos |  Lake Maria |  Lake Shetek  |  Mille Lacs Kathio |  Minneopa |  Minnesota Valley |  Monson Lake |  Sakatah Lake |  Sibley |  Split Rock Creek |  Upper Sioux Agency

STATE TRAILS:
Casey Jones | Central Lakes | Glacial Lakes | Luce Line | Minnesota Valley | Sakatah Singing Hills

FIRST PLACE

By Pamela Sherlock

FATHER HENNEPIN STATE PARK

Photographer Notes

Father Hennepin State Park is the second state park my husband and I camped at after purchasing a small travel trailer in 2022. It’s crazy to say that we have hardly ever taken vacations, but that’s the truth! Last year we decided to change that, and our first destinations were our beautiful MN state parks; we typically camp midweek when the parks are quieter.

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I had been up at Father Hennepin’s swimming beach practicing long exposures and also hoping for some lightning (there were storms predicted for the late afternoon/evening so there were few people around). After a while, I toddled on over to Pope’s Point, passing only one other hiker. Reeds Near Sunset was photographed on the way back from Pope’s Point, just north-ish west-ish of the swimming beach. I think I really focused on them after seeing some ducks careering about (I am not much of a bird photographer, their movement snagged my eyes) and noticed how the green of the reeds was reflected in the water. The skies were pretty and pink but would go firey orange in about 20 minutes as the sun got closer to the horizon.

When discussing landscape photography, many people first think of the “grand landscape,” those photographs with sweeping vistas, epic light, surreal compositions, and strange and awesome colors. While these types of photographs have their place, I am drawn more to the smaller scene (probably because I don’t travel a lot), the tableaux that may be overlooked, or the common stream just around the corner. Personally, I find some of the grander style landscape photography to be somewhat alienating and distancing – they are often remote and epic areas that I will never see in person in my lifetime – and to a certain extent, I feel that they create a separation between people and the landscape – sort of like buying your groceries at the store but not knowing where they came from. Our state has so much to offer in its small visions of quiet beauty. This is why I tend to focus on smaller more intimate scenes within our parks. Anyone can see these reeds – if they look, they are ubiquitous around Mille Lacs. Knowing that they are an essential part of the lake’s ecosystem makes showcasing them all the more relevant.

Outline of Minnesota with the northwest corner colored green

Northwest State Parks and Trails

 

STATE PARKS:
Big Bog  |  Buffalo River  |  Crow Wing  |  Cuyuna Country  |  Franz Jevne |  Garden Island |  Glendalough |  Hayes Lake |  Itasca |  Lake Bemidji  |  Lake Bronson |  La Salle Lake |  Maplewood |  Old Mill |  Red River |  Scenic |  Schoolcraft |  Zippel Bay

STATE TRAILS:
Cuyuna Lakes | Heartland | Paul Bunyan

FIRST PLACE

By Joyce Palm

BIG BOG STATE RECREATION AREA

Photographer notes

One of the highlights of the Big Bog State Recreation Area is the Big Bog Boardwalk, located in the northern unit of the park. This elevated walkway allows visitors to be above–and at times level with–a unique array of flowers, plants, grasses, and trees, all along a one-mile hike to a viewing platform overlooking the vast peatland. Since we live relatively close to this amazing area, it’s easy for us to take a morning or afternoon hike there, and we try to go several times a month.

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Whether searching for sundews in the spring or soaking in the golden glow of the tamaracks in the fall, the boardwalk provides a glimpse into a different world, full of life thriving in harsh conditions. On this day in early May, the pitcher plants were a brilliant red and the fresh spring green in the trees popped against a blue sky. I had seen a few palm warblers darting among the tamarack and black spruce, so I knew they were nearby. I was fortunate to notice this one fly up to a branch, look towards me, and pause, just long enough for one quick photo. The opportunity was even more special since I share a name with this colorful songbird.

Minnesota Outline with SE corner yellow

Southeast State Parks and Trails

 

STATE PARKS:
Afton  |  Banning |  Beaver Creek Valley |  Carley |  Forestville/Mystery Cave |  Fort Snelling |  Frontenac |  Great River Bluffs |  Interstate |  John A Latsch |  Lake Louise |  Myre Big Island |  Nerstrand Big Woods |  Rice Lake |  St. Croix |  Whitewater |  Wild River |  William O’Brien

STATE TRAILS:
Blazing Star | Brown’s Creek | Gateway | Goodhue Pioneer | Great River Ridge | Douglas | Mill Towns | Harmony-Preston Valley | Root River | Shooting Star

FIRST PLACE

By Scott M Mohn

FORT SNELLING STATE PARK

Photographer notes

Where within the park was the photo taken?

Northeast side of Picnic island. Very close to Path.

What is your connection to this place?

Snelling is one of my favorite parks. In this case I had dropped off family at the airport and took the chance to stop in on my way home.

What were the conditions when you took the photo?

It was a late February afternoon. The sun was just below the trees, it was a quiet twilight, not many visitors. It was chilly, but not cold. very peaceful.

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What was involved in setting up this photo?

The deer and I simply came upon each other by chance, so very spontaneous. It was very close when we saw each other, so I slowly sat down in the snow and hoped I did not scare it away. It was unconcerned and kept coming closer, I sat quietly and enjoyed the wonderful sight, will take photos – of course.

Is there a message or story that this photo is telling?

Nothing in particular other than how fortunate we are to have places like Snelling and our State Parks. If we respect nature , it has so much to share with us in return.

Minnesota Outline with NE corner tan

Northeast State Parks and Trails

 

STATE PARKS:
Bear Head Lake  |  Cascade River  |  George H. Crosby Manitou  |  Gooseberry Falls  |  Grand Portage  |  Hill Annex Mine  |  Jay Cooke  |  Judge CR Magney  |  Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine  |  McCarthy Beach  |  Moose Lake  |  Savanna Portage  |  Split Rock Lighthouse  |  Temperance River  |  Tettegouche

STATE TRAILS:
Gitchi Gami | Willard Munger

FIRST PLACE

By Walt Huss

BEAR HEAD LAKE STATE PARK

Photographer notes

While visiting Ely, Minnesota, this spring, I decided to drive the 20 miles to Bear Head Lake State Park to photograph wildlife. To my delight, I noticed a group of Common Loons hanging out fairly close to shore on Bear Head Lake. I set up my 600mm lens and was able to capture the moment when three loons swam close together. Serendipity? Perhaps, but as chemist Louis Pasteur once said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

 

 

Photo Categories

Four regions of Minnesota

STATE PARKS:

Big Bog | Buffalo River | Crow Wing | Cuyuna Country | Franz Jevne | Garden Island | Glendalough | Hayes Lake | Itasca | Lake Bemidji | Lake Bronson | La Salle Lake | Maplewood | Old Mill | Red River | Scenic | Schoolcraft | Zippel Bay

STATE TRAILS:

Cuyuna Lakes | Heartland | Paul Bunyan

STATE PARKS:

Bear Head Lake | Cascade River | George H. Crosby Manitou | Gooseberry Falls | Grand Portage | Hill Annex Mine | Jay Cooke | Judge CR Magney | Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine | McCarthy Beach | Moose Lake | Savanna Portage | Split Rock Lighthouse | Temperance River | Tettegouche

STATE TRAILS:

Gitchi Gami | Willard Munger

STATE PARKS:
Big Stone Lake  |  Blue Mounds |  Camden |  Charles A lindbergh |  Father Hennepin |  Flandrau |  Fort Ridgley  |  Glacial Lakes |  Greenleaf Lake |  Kilen Woods |  Lac qui Parle |  Lake Carlos |  Lake Maria |  Lake Shetek  |  Mille Lacs Kathio |  Minneopa |  Minnesota Valley |  Monson Lake |  Sakatah Lake |  Sibley |  Split Rock Creek |  Upper Sioux Agency

STATE TRAILS:
Casey Jones | Central Lakes | Glacial Lakes | Luce Line | Minnesota Valley | Sakatah Singing Hills

STATE PARKS:

Afton | Banning | Beaver Creek Valley | Carley | Forestville/Mystery Cave | Fort Snelling | Frontenac | Great River Bluffs | Interstate | John A Latsch | Lake Louise | Myre Big Island | Nerstrand Big Woods | Rice Lake | St. Croix | Whitewater | Wild River | William O’Brien

STATE TRAILS:

Blazing Star | Brown’s Creek | Gateway | Goodhue Pioneer | Great River Ridge | Douglas | Mill Towns | Harmony-Preston Valley | Root River | Shooting Star

Deadline

Thursday, June 15, 2023

May 15 – Submissions process opens

June 15 – Submission deadline

June 16-30 – Judging selection process

July 3 – Winners announced online and on social media

Guidelines

Details and judging criteria

  • Photo must be taken in a state park or trail in Minnesota.
  • Limit of 4 photos per person.
  • Photo must have been taken and owned by the person submitting (e.g., copyright has not been sold to another person or entity)
  • Photo must be in .jpeg or .jpg format
  • Photo must not depict anything against the rules of the park or trail where photo was taken.
  • The recommended size of the photo is
    • 300 dpi.
    • At least 2,000 pixels on the longest side. Larger images are encouraged and may improve your photos’ quality.
    • The winning photos must be of sufficient quality to use in print publications.
    • Less than 8 MB.
  • Photos must not be digitally altered beyond standard optimization.
    • Acceptable changes include adjustments to color, contrast, brightness, and sharpness; removal of dust and scratches; cropping; black-and-white conversions; and use of HDR (High Dynamic Range), where multiple exposures of the same scene are combined for a greater tonal range, and similar processes for extended depth of field.

A panel of judges will be choosing the winners using the following criteria:

1. Content – capturing the unique qualities, experiences or beauty of that park or trail. Photos from any season is welcome.

2. Composition – the framing and balance of elements within the shot.

3. Technical Quality – the lighting, crispness, color, focus of the shot.

Prizes

Variety of prizes

Cover of our 2023 calendar with a wolf peeking over grass
All photos (not just the winners) have the potential to be featured with photographer credit in our 2024 calendar. Any photographer whose photo is selected will receive two copies of the calendar, plus a discount on any additional copies.

Hints for increasing chances of being featured:

  • consider submitting spring, winter, or fall photos, rather than summer.
  • submit horizontal photo that would fill a calendar page.

four issues of Minnesota Trails Magazine

First place photos from each category will be published in Minnesota Trails Magazine, which is distributed to all state parks and many bike shops, plus mailed to P&TC members.

Gift Card to Minnesota State Parks

Gift cards to Minnesota State Parks will be awarded as follows for each of the 4 categories.

1st = $50 value
2nd = $40 value
3rd = $30 value

All submitted photos (that abide by the rules and criteria) will be displayed on this page of our website and winners will recognized.

All winning photographs will be recognized on our Facebook  and Instagram pages.