WINNER:
Keeli Meland   Clam Shell at the Shore

FIRST RUNNER UP:
Melissa Erickson   Triple Beauty … Sun, Fog, Frost

SECOND RUNNER UP:
Marshall Lipp   Suspended Animation

THIRD RUNNER UP:
Suanne Kallis    Something Unexpected

HONORABLE MENTION:
Jamie Haukenberry    Where the Green Grass Grows

HONORABLE MENTION:
Cathy Myrum    Christmas is Coming and Dewy Crocus

HONORABLE MENTION:
Katherine Plessner    Northern Lights 

The 2026 North Dakota Waterways Photo Contest

will be begin accepting entries January 1, 2026.

Deadline for submitting photos is May 15, 2026.

Photography Contest Rules

Entries will be judged on suitability for publication on the front cover, appropriate representation of North Dakota’s water, and photographic creativity, and quality.

Photographs must have been taken in North Dakota and water must appear in some form (i.e., snow, rain, ice, lake, river, dew, etc.) in the photograph. Digital photos preferred and must be at least 300 DPI at 9 x 12 inches, vertical orientation. Photographs not meeting these specifications will be disqualified. Entries may also be mailed to NDWEF, PO Box 2254, Bismarck, ND 58502. Winners will be notified; there will be no acknowledgement of receipt of entries. Entries will be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is included with the entry.

There are no categories. One overall winner, three runners-up, and four honorable mention winners will be chosen at the judge’s discretion. The decisions of the judge are final. There is no entry fee and no limit on the number of photographs you may enter.

Prizes

Winners receive cash prizes. Winning photos may appear on a future front cover of the magazine.