Winter 'surf's up' scene rides into Four-Season Fun finals

Surfing Lake Michigan isn’t uncommon in the summer, but on Dec. 30?  Only for the intrepid.

I knew there were people out surfing,“ said Michael Palko of Kingsley, who was in Frankfort on Dec. 30, 2018,  “but I didn't know one of them was walking out on the pier while I was trying to catch a wave crashing into the pier. This individual walked into my shot at the perfect time.”

Kingsley’s photo, “Catch a Wave,” becomes one of the first finalists in The Detroit News’ Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest’s last theme of the summer, Four-Season Fun.

The window for entries remains open until noon Friday, Aug. 16.  Share your photos of fun activities and beautiful scenes from any of Michigan's four seasons at https://apps.detroitnews.com/submitphotos for a chance to win a prize.

This week’s other finalists are:

• “Autumn,” by Lakelynn Holsworth of Carsonville.  Freckles, the Saint Bernard owned by her boyfriend’s mother, “has always been a pretty photogenic dog,” she said. “She would just walk over to me and then roll onto her back patiently waiting for scratches. I carefully placed the fall leaves on her stomach and took a few shots; she didn’t even move.”
•  “Seas the Day,” by Nisha Dubey of Rochester Hills.  The Log Slide Overlook at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a frequently photographed scene, but Dubey figured out a way to make it her own.  “I tucked my phone on the sand, set it on 10 seconds self-timer mode and ran as far as I could towards the water. Finally, after 10 seconds I got the shot I wanted.”
• “Tubing on the Lake,” by Kellie Holmstrom of Marquette.  Holmstrom took her nephew Payton and his friend John tubing on Big Shag Lake in Gwinn. “They had a great time trying to stay on,” she said.  “This photo catches Payton losing his grip. He came back to the boat smiling.”

Each week, the Detroit News photo staff judges will select four finalists. At the end of the contest, two $300 prizes will be awarded.  The Four-Season Fun winner will be selected by the Detroit News photo staff, and the People’s Choice Award winner will be chosen by an online public vote, August 21-25.  

The contest is open to non-professional photographers age 18 and older. Read the official rules and follow along at https://detroitnews.com/celebrate-michigan for weekly stories and a growing photo gallery of the finalists and winners selected to date.