Back Cover Photo Contest

The contest is open to all photographers, including amateurs and professionals. Michigan History and HSM staff and board members and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

• Photos must be the work of the entrant and have been taken in Michigan (within land and lake boundaries).
• Photos must be in color (no black and white) and may be minimally adjusted for contrast, sharpness, or removal of dust spots but should not be otherwise manipulated to create an image that did not occur in reality.
• Photos must represent something historical in Michigan.
• Only photos in portrait orientation will be considered.
• Images must be formatted as JPEGs, 300 dpi or higher.
• Each image must be at least 9 inches wide by 12 inches high.
• Photos that were submitted for previous contests (that did not win) and/or photos that have not been featured on the back cover may resubmit to this contest.
• Images should have been taken within the last five years.
• Photos that do not meet the above requirements will be disqualified.

Judging will be based on overall clarity and technical quality with attention to composition, color, and creativity. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entries deemed unsuitable.

The first-place winning photo will be published on the back cover of the January/February 2024 issue of Michigan History. Second- and third-place winners will be published in subsequent issues. Photo submissions that did not win may still be eligible to be featured on the back of the magazine. HSM staff will evaluate and contact photographers on a case-by-case basis.

• 1st Place: $200 plus 5 complimentary copies of the magazine and a one-year subscription to Michigan History.
• 2nd Place: $150 plus 5 complimentary copies of the magazine and a one-year subscription to Michigan History.
• 3rd Place: $100 plus 5 complimentary copies of the magazine and a one-year subscription to Michigan History.
• Honorable Mentions: $75 plus 5 complimentary copies of the magazine and a one-year subscription to Michigan History.
• Other Features: $25 plus 5 complimentary copies of the magazine.

• Up to 3 entries may be submitted per photographer.
• Include your last name in the file name for each photo.
• Entries must be submitted electronically by emailing individual images to info@hsmichigan.org. Paper mailed entries will not be considered.
• Please send one image per email with a subject line of “2023 MHM Photo Contest,” your name, and submission number (for example: 2023 MHM Photo Contest, Jane Doe, image 1 of 3).
• Within the email, please include:
  1. Your full name
  2. Address
  3. Phone number
  4. Email
  5. Image title
  6. Location where the image was taken
  7. Small write-up about how the photo was obtained (50-word max)

A confirmation will be sent for images that meet all eligibility criteria. 

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023.
Winners will be notified via email on or before September 29, 2023.

By entering the contest, you automatically convey to Michigan History and its publisher, the Historical Society of Michigan, unlimited (by media), nonexclusive publishing rights to each image submitted. Any uses of these images beyond the photo contest and its promotion will be contingent upon your approval and will be fully credited. You retain the copyrights to each image. Images with recognizable human subjects should have permission from those in the photo, available to Michigan History upon request.

Please email HSM Publications at info@hsmichigan.org.