Photo Contest

The City of Ramsey hosts an annual Photo Contest to celebrate what our community members love most about our city! This contest is a great chance to showcase your photography skills, get creative, and explore three different adult categories, along with a youth category.

Entries for the 2025 contest will be accepted until Wednesday, December 31, at 11:59 p.m.

All submitted photos will be featured in the City's newsletter, The Ramsey Resident, as well as on the City website and social media channels. Winners will be recognized at a City Council meeting, where they will receive prizes and a certificate of recognition.

Submit to photo contest button, Camera icon, opens new window

Built Landscapes and Architecture 

Explore the combination of style and purpose in Ramsey’s buildings, from historic sites to modern designs. Take photos of manufacturing facilities, contemporary buildings, and the special details that often go unnoticed.

Ideas

  • Heritage and History: Document buildings and landmarks that reflect Ramsey’s past.  
  • Modern Marvels: Focus on innovative architecture and urban design.  
  • Architectural Details: Highlight unique elements, such as doorways and windows, to showcase the building’s character.  
  • Nightscapes: Capture Ramsey’s architecture illuminated at night, showcasing the effects of light.  

Natural Spaces and Wildlife

Explore Ramsey’s outdoor beauty and celebrate its diverse landscapes, plants, and wildlife. From serene morning light over lakes to intricate butterfly wings, let nature fuel your photography. 

Ideas

  • Seasonal Landscapes: Capture the unique beauty of each season.
  • Birds, Beasts and Insects: Highlight the variety of wildlife that calls Ramsey home. 
  • Water Wonders: Focus on the significance of lakes, rivers, and streams.
  • Parks and Trails: Showcase your favorite outdoor spaces.

Life in Ramsey

What defines Ramsey? Is it serene mornings, vibrant festivals, or evenings on the river? Explore the essence of our community through the people, events, and everyday moments that unite us. 

Ideas

  • Community Events: Festivals, markets, and gatherings that bring us together.
  • Everyday Life: The routines, streets, and faces that shape our daily life.
  • Cultural Heritage: Celebrating the unique traditions and crafts of Ramsey.
  • Sport and Recreation: Showcasing active lifestyles through sports and outdoor activities.

Through My Eyes – Youth Entry

Ramsey’s young people are invited to share their perspective through photos. If you’re under 18, show us what you love about Ramsey—your favorite spot, meaningful people, hobbies, or dreams.

Ideas 

  • Favorite Spot: Capture a place in Ramsey that’s special to you, whether it brings you peace or fun memories.  
  • Hobbies and Passion: Share photos of activities you love, whether creative, sporty, or unique.  
  • School Days: Highlight school experiences or memorable learning moments in Ramsey.

  • Entrants must live, work, or attend school in Ramsey. City employees and their families are ineligible. 
  • Only original photographers may submit entries, guaranteeing authorship and copyright. Minor digital enhancements are allowed, but significantly modified images or those created with artificial intelligence will be disqualified. 
  • Photos must be taken within the Ramsey city limits in 2025 and be appropriate for government publications. If a picture is taken in a public space and people are identifiable, it is the photographer's responsibility to obtain permission to use their likeness.
  • The City of Ramsey will use the submitted photos for publication and marketing purposes. 
  • Submissions with professional watermarks or logos will be disqualified. Entrants may submit up to 15 photos, and each person can win once per category, unless there are no other entries in that category. 
  • The Committee will categorize submissions according to the criteria outlined above.

Winners

Winners will be contacted in February 2026 and publicly announced at a City Council meeting before April 2026. 

The People's Choice Award will open in January 2026 and be available for voting for one month. 

People who submit multiple photos may receive up to one award per category. 

Entries will be judged on the following: photo composition, expression of the category, and overall creativity. Participants may win only one category per year unless there are no other entries.

Prizes

A prize will be awarded in each of the following categories:

Overall Grand Prize Winner

  • Grand Prize

Natural Spaces and Wildlife

  • Natural Spaces and Wildlife: Winner
  • Natural Spaces and Wildlife: Runner-up

Built Landscapes and Architecture

  • Built Landscapes and Architecture: Winner
  • Built Landscapes and Architecture: Runner-up

Life in Ramsey

  • Life in Ramsey: Winner
  • Life in Ramsey: Runner-up

Through My Eyes (Youth Entry, under 18)

  • Through My Eyes: Winner 
  • Through My Eyes: Runner-up 

People's Choice Award (Online Public Vote)

  • People's Choice Winner
  • People's Choice Runner-up

Contact Us

Abby Proulx
Recreation Coordinator 
Email Abby
763-433-9883

Mariah Albrecht
Parks Administrative Assistant 
Email Mariah
763-433-9820

Mark Riverblood
Parks & Assistant Public Works Director
Email Mark
763-433-9853

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