Great Lakes_Content Page_2024 Photo Contest

Wisconsin's Great Waters 2024 Photo Contest and Writing Project

Winners

The Office of Great Waters is pleased to present our 16th annual calendar, featuring the top submissions from the 2024 Wisconsin’s Great Waters Photo Contest and Writing Project. As these photos and writings clearly show, the Great Lakes and Mississippi River are among Wisconsin's most scenic and beloved natural resources.

Thank you to all 2024 photographers and authors for sharing your talent with us!

2024-2025 Calendar

A boy stands on a pier along Lake Michigan, with his arms extended high overhead in reaction to a big wave splashing against the wall. The wave’s spray reflects the pale golden sunrise in the distance. 
Calendar cover image: "Big Splash" by Wendi Huffman. Metro Pier, Oak Creek.

The calendar is a unique collection of photos from our 2024 photo contest, creative writings submitted by Wisconsin authors and descriptions of stewardship efforts. The calendar reminds us to celebrate our iconic waters throughout the seasons and inspires us to be careful stewards of these vast yet vulnerable resources. It’s typically distributed at DNR events, state parks visitor centers and DNR regional offices throughout the state.

2024 Winning Photographs

The Office of Great Waters received more than 500 beautiful photos of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River for the 2024 contest. Top photographs are featured in the 2024-2025 Wisconsin's Great Waters Calendar.

People Enjoying Our Great Waters

Two smiling people in a tandem sea kayak pause in calm water in front of a tall sandstone sea cave. Behind them, another duo in a tandem sea kayak pause near the sea cave. Another set of kayakers are paddling around the headland.

1st Place: “Sea Caves Paddling” by Satiya Buell. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

A young girl laughs while sitting on a sandy beach with her feet partially buried in the sand. Small waves break near the beach.

2nd Place: “Sandy Smiles” by Samantha Pivett. North Beach Park.

Honorable Mention: Jonathan Beers, Steve Bensing, Pam Buss, Julie DeLisle, Lana Froemming, Wendi Huffman, Ken Johnson, Pam Ledin, Sue Mangan, Ken Manson, Heather Vande Hei.

Cultural And Historical Features

The Manitowoc River meets a golden sunrise as it flows into Lake Michigan. M/V Saginaw is docked at the port, across from the U.S.S. Cobia at the Manitowoc Maritime Museum.

1st Place: “Manitowoc Harbor” by Michael Henderson. Manitowoc.

The Wisconsin Point Lighthouse is in silhouette against a brilliant orange sunrise. A flock of seagulls stretches along the horizon above the calm waters.

2nd Place: “Morning Glow” by Kelly L. Johnson. Wisconsin Point, Superior.

Honorable Mention: Peggy Carter, Renee Cornelius, Michael Henderson, Kelly L. Johnson, Kerry Johnson, Roger Krueger, Jim Lundstrom, Tara Opsteen-Van Dyke, Linda Rappel, Mark Straub, Angelo Trentadue.

Natural Features

A huge moon casts a beam of light across the lake, stretching towards the sandy shoreline. A grizzled pine tree stands to the left of the moonbeam and moonlight illuminates beach grasses, flowers and shrubs on the beach.

1st Place: “Supermoon Rising” by Gary Cressey. Kohler-Andrae State Park.

Shades of green, yellow and purple from the Aurora Borealis illuminate the night sky and cast their reflections on still waters of the crescent-shaped bay. Moody dark clouds take up much of the sky, except for a large gap between them, where the aurora beams through along with a scattering of stars. Pine and spruce trees are silhouetted against the aurora’s colors.

2nd Place: “The Crack Is Where The Light Gets In” by Lana Froemming. Little Sand Bay, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Honorable Mention: Matt Abrahamson, Peggy Carter, Sheri Erickson, Michael Henderson, Joanne Kurowski, Linda Olig, Kate Reichl, Blake Richard, Elaine Sapp, David Schwabauer, Mark Straub.

Wildlife

Five flamingos stand in breaking waves along the shoreline. Two have their heads tucked under their wings and the other three gaze out into the lake. The breaking waves sparkle in the sunlight.

1st Place: “Unexpected Pink Visitors” by Julie DeLisle. South Beach, Port Washington.

Dozens of similar looking Winter Scaup and Goldeneye Ducks fill the water. They all strike a similar pose, facing to the right, except for one—one duck faces the camera, with its body lifted out of the water and wings outstretched.

2nd Place: “Winter Scaup and Goldeneye Ducks” by Matthew Groppi. Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee.

Honorable Mention: Victoria Almgren, Maribeth Barbuch, Lana Froemming, Joanne Kurowski, Sue Mangan, Ken Manson, Linda Rappel, Jeannine Warnke, Mark Zawlocki.