@acidwashed501s
U.P. FALL PHOTO & VIDEO CONTEST
There’s a reason why Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is repeatedly named one of the top 10 regions to see fall colors in the United States. The U.P.’s Great Lakes shorelines, mountaintops, river valleys and heavily forested wilderness are brilliant with scarlet red, sunny gold, bright orange, deep russet and dark green treetops from September to mid-October. At every turn in the U.P., you will want to stop to take another stunning photo.
That’s why we are hosting the first U.P. Travel Fall Photo and Video Contest. We want to see what autumn photos you have taken in the last two years and give you a chance to win one of our top three prizes. Bring your camera and start clicking!
Spring/Summer Contest
Voting is now open for the 2023 Spring/Summer contest, choose your favorite photo and video!
Contest rules
- The contest starts September 18, 2023.
- Submissions are due by November 30, 2023, at 4 p.m. EST.
- Submit as many photo or video entries as you want!
- All submissions must be taken in the U.P. during the fall within the last two years (2022 and 2023). Label the U.P. location of your photo/video in each submission.
- You must read and agree to the U.P. Travel Terms & Conditions before submitting your photos and videos.
What to submit
Each submission must meet these criteria:
- Your videos must be filmed vertically with a minimum of 1080 x 1920 resolution.
- Your photos must be at least 10" x 8" @ 300 dpi (3300 x 2550 pixels @ 300ppi) in size.
- You must identify the U.P. location of your photo/video in each submission.
- To keep voting anonymous, only photos without a watermark will be accepted.
Contest judging
- UP Travel staff will narrow entries down to the top three photos and top three videos.
- Final votes from the public will determine first-, second- and third-place winners for both photos and videos.
- Public voting on Facebook and Instagram will run after the contest ends, and we will announce the winners in late December.
Prizes you could win
Here is what you could win in either our photo or video contest!
FIRST PLACE PHOTO AND VIDEO:
- $150 in gift cards
- Upper Peninsula merchandise
- Featured and credited on:
- Homepage of uptravel.com for the duration of the spring/summer season
- Galleries across the uptravel.com website
- E-newsletter
- Social media platforms — posts and stories
- Photo contest landing page featuring your biographical information
SECOND PLACE PHOTO AND VIDEO:
- $100 in gift cards
- Upper Peninsula merchandise
- Featured and credited on:
- Galleries across the uptravel.com website
- Social media platforms — posts and stories
- Photo contest landing page featuring your biographical information
THIRD PLACE PHOTO AND VIDEO:
- $50 in gift cards
- Upper Peninsula merchandise
- Featured and credited on:
- Galleries across the uptravel.com website
- Social media platforms — posts and stories
- Photo contest landing page featuring your biographical information
Submit your photos and videos now!
Click the uploader below to submit as many photos and videos as you would like for your chance to be featured!
2023 Winter Contest Winners:
1st Place Photo:
Marybeth Kiczenski
Bio: The Upper Peninsula holds a special place in my heart. As a family, we would go "up north" every summer, and that's where my love for the area grew. From the beaches, to the forest, waterfalls to lighthouses; Michigan's Upper Peninsula has it all. It's a place I go to heal; to relax. There's an incredible sense of peace there and that is what keeps me coming back! I entered this contest to share my love for the Upper Peninsula. It always brings me joy to share these beautiful locations with others, and help them perhaps realize that the U.P. is more than a destination, it is where stories and memories are made!
Instagram | Facebook | Website
Northern Lights at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
1st Place Video:
Jake Ring
Bio: I entered the contest because almost all of my photos and videos are in the Upper Peninsula where I call home. It made sense to show off the west side of the U.P. in the off chance my video got selected. I love a lot of things about the U.P.! What I love most is its wild rivers, canyons and waterfalls. I spend my free time finding unknown and undocumented waterfalls, and truly believe there are over 1000 waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula.
Waterfalls and rivers in Ironwood
2nd Place Photo:
Justin Miller
Bio: I entered the photo contest to challenge myself. As a Texan Native we don't have winters. So going out to the UP where there is usually tons of snow provides interesting compositions and challenging conditions I've never photographed before. I took this photo only 3 months after moving to Michigan. I had done Previous research on where the darkest and highest quality skies are in Michigan and that place is the UP. What I love about the UP is the sheer wilderness. The lack of light pollution makes it the Ideal place for AstroPhotography. There's so much to do and so much to see but so little time to do so! A couple projects I have in the works are a full arch milky way panorama of Tahquamenon Falls and I'd like to get the aurora above bond falls.
Night Sky at Tahquamenon Falls
2nd Place Video:
Hillary Marshall
Bio: I entered the contest to share a locals perspective of just how beautiful our winters can be. I love the upper peninsula for its beauty in every season. Adventure is available in every one of its corners. Can’t forget to mention our out of this world sunrises!
Lake Superior Sunrise, Marquette
3rd Place Photo:
Lawrence Johnson
Bio: I did this contest to boost my photography business. I love going to the UP for photos and it’s just amazing to visit the UP.
Old 510 Bridge, Negaunee Township
3rd Place Video:
Bryan Lopac
Bio: I enjoy sharing with others the beauty of the UP. Not everyone can go see certain parts or do things so I try to bring it to them.