Celebrate Michigan: See the finalists, best shots from Week 1-12

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Talk about a lucky catch! And we mean the great blue heron of course. Ann Arbor photographer Craig Bamm was certainly in the right place at the right time and made the most of the occasion.

FINALIST (At-Large): Views and Vistas - Photographer Keith Blaske of Niles perfectly timed this shot of the May "Flower Moon" setting over the inner St. Joseph Lighthouse.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Takuma Saito of Novi got creative to make this wonderful photo of the Northern Lights in Lake Superior.

FINALIST (At-Large): Fur, Feathers and Flora - West Bloomfield's Lauren Hiltz found this cute raccoon peeking out from under a bridge at Kensington Metropark.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Juan Simmons of Warren captured this cold but beautiful photo of the Detroit skyline at sunset from Belle Isle.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Clarkston photographer Michael Damone found this quiet scene in perfect light at Orion Oaks County Park in Lake Orion.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Michael Damone used his drone to make this graphic and stunning shot of a water skier in Independence Township.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Preston Rawls of Waterford made this wonderfully detailed portrait of a silverback gorilla at the Detroit Zoo.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Glen Suszko of Shelby Township captured this photo of a contestant in the Muddy Dash 2023 at Stoney Creek Metro Park.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Jenison photographer Drew Chylek employed a drone to make this creative and compelling photo of Little Sable Point Lighthouse.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Craig Bamm of Ann Arbor captured this papa osprey bringing breakfast for mama and the three kids at Kensington Metropark.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - John Gorney of St,. Clair Shores captured this stunning view of the Milky Way from the Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Corbin, Kentucky photographer Peggy Yeager perfectly captured the joy of her grandson jumping off the dunes at Twelvemile Beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Westland photographer Michael Hellyer employed a long telephotos to capture the intense look on this American bald eagle in flight at Sterling State Park in Monroe.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Michael Damone of Clarkston captured a bolt of lightning striking the south tower of the Ambassador Bridge as a squall line approached downtown Detroit.

FINALIST (At-Large): Candid Captures - Leo Slovak of Grosse Pointe Woods captured this fun photo during a dune ride in Mears.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Kathryn Wellman of Milan, Mich. captured this wonderful moment of her daughter, Audrey, under the umbrella, son Victor, left, and their neighborhood chums gazing upon the glory of a Sunday evening rainbow.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Michael Hellyer of Westland calls this image of a red-tailed hawk in flight at Kensington Metropark in Milford "Eyes on the Prize.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Jill Bliznik of Howell was kayaking through a tunnel from Hubbard Lake when she caught a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. She calls the photo "Kayaking the Tube.

FINALIST (At-Large): Fur, Feathers and Flora - Dennis Boatman of Wixom calls this photo, ‘Hangin’ in the Clouds.’ He wrote, ‘Big clouds and blue sky provided a beautiful backdrop for this Sandhill Crane family preparing for landing in Commerce Township.’

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Michael Hellyer of Westland captured this sandhill Crane on the water at Robert H. Long Nature Park in Commerce Township.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Mark Godek of West Bloomfield captured this striking view of the Gordie Howe bridge under construction from an unusual vantage point on the deck of a boat on the Detroit River.

FINALIST (At-Large): Views and Vistas - Michael Damone of Clarkston captured this pair of WWII-era fighter planes trailing smoke while performing during a Warbird Thunder Airshow in the skys over the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Alyse Collins of East Lansing captured the joy of a boat ride to Mackinac Island as her children and mother admired the Mackinac Bridge. This photo is the very definition of the category title.

FINALIST (At-Large): Views and Vistas - Detroit photographer Bobby Brown II used a drone to make this neat photo in Hamtramck.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Redford photographer Tim Hunter happened upon this wonderful scene of a whitetail deer and great blue heron walking together at a marsh in Detroit. The judges love that it looks like two friends out for a stroll.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Photographer Michael Palko of Interlochen took advantage of a large rain puddle to make this wonderful photo at Bond Falls.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Renae Houghton of Commerce, Mich. made this underwater photo of her son enjoying a swim this summer at a campground pool near Silver Lake.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - The contrasting colors and leading lines in this classic northern Michigan photo made it the best of this weeksÕ bunch for Oxford photographer Jen Spezia.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Ann Arbor photographer Craig Bamm scored another finalist with this wonderful shot of a bald eagle nest at Sterling State Park in Monroe.

FINALIST (At-Large): Candid Captures - Clarkson photographer Michael Damone made a graphic photo of this powered parachute at sunset in Independence Township.

FINALIST (At-Large): Candid Captures - A hiker in red provided a great focal point for Interlochen photographer Michael Palko as he was checking out the power of Lake Superior at Black Rocks.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - West Bloomfield photographer Lauren Hiltz made this spectacular photo at the Canterbury Village Medieval Faire.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - This split-level shot by Westland photographer Nate Rose is a great way to show the uniqueness of Kitch-iti-kipi.

FINALIST (At-Large): Views and Vistas - The Northern Lights at Point Betsie Lighthouse are captured in all their glory by Westland photographer Nate Rose.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - This early morning photo of some brave and hearty souls participating in cold water therapy at McCarty's Cove in Marquette was taken by Tom Carleton of Marquette, Michigan.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Gregory Seitz of Flint calls this photo Kingbird Dragonfly Dinner. He was out for a drive when he noticed these Kingbirds having an evening snack. He focused on the chicks and when they got excited "it meant mom was coming," he said of the moment.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Michael Damone of Clarkston captured stunning beams of sunlight filtering through the branches of a tree on a foggy morning in Lake Orion, Michigan.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - This stunning photo of the Northern Lights dancing of Chateau Grand Traverse on Old Mission Peninsula was taken by Bill O’Rourke of Traverse City.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Commerce Township photographer Richard Bagdasarian caught this powerful and unique image of grizzly bear cub Jebbie playing with polar bear cub Laerke at the Detroit Zoo.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Darcel Demyanovich of Wyandotte caught this cute photo of her nephew playing in the rain.

FINALIST (At-Large): Fur, Feathers and Flora - This wonderful photo of a sandhill crane and colt was taken at Kensington Metropark by Commerce Township photographer Richard Bagdasarian.

FINALIST (At-Large): Fur, Feathers and Flora - Deborah McCrary of Troy captured this sweet photo of sisters Astra and Laerke at the Detroit Zoo.

FINALIST: Candid Captures - Milan photographer Jack Starkey made this magazine-worthy photo of his sister laying on a lounge chair near Ludington.

FINALIST: Views and Vistas - Detroit photographer Michael Mulholland photographed this serene scene at Little Platte Lake.

FINALIST: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Photographer Stacy Williams of Harsens Island made this wonderfully dramatic photo of a pair of egrets in the Krispin Drain on the island.

FINALIST (At-Large): Candid Captures - Photographer Michael Damone of Clarkston caught the cold moment a surfer jumped into the icy waters of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Ypsilanti photographer Ray Phillips used a long exposure to make this cool photo while camping under the stars at Rolling Hills Water Park in Ypsilanti.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Preston Rawls of Waterford caught this F-22 Raptor screaming past the crowd at Thunder Over Michigan.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Paula Alfonsi of Almont caught this fun moment of her granddaughter playing with bubbles.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Gretchen Trudeau of Harbor Springs did a great job spotting and photographing this crab spider camouflaged agains a zinnia in her cottage garden.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Kay Klamer of Hudsonville made this super fun portrait of her springer spaniel Lucy playing in the snow.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - This image by Cindy Oleszkowicz of Plymouth had the judges chuckling as this squirrel stopped foraging long enough to sniff a hosta flower.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Jordan Delmonte of Pittsburgh captured the rugged beauty of Eagle Harbor Lighthouse in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Preston Rawls of Waterford found this green heron stuffing itself in a pond in Royal Oak.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Troy photographer Deborah McCrary made a fine photo of these zebras playing at the Detroit Zoo.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Keith Blaske of Niles nicely composed this photo of the Crisp Point Lighthouse just before sunrise.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Peggy Yaeger of Corbin, Kentucky made this cute photo of her granddaughter playing in the sand.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Photographer Sanford Szirtes of Farmington Hills captured the iconic American tradition of Halloween in Pleasant Ridge.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures -Dave Antoniotti of Kalamazoo nicely framed this photo of his son setting the pins at the duckpin bowling alley at Woods Restaurant on Mackinac Island.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - June Michelin of Clinton Township one doesn't have to travel far to make a great photo, with this cute picture of their cat enjoying her box.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Stephanie Smith of Clinton Township caught this little bird perched on the head of a doe.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Charles Gammon of Davison, Michigan, captured this angelic photo of his granddaughter looking out through the glass of the backdoor at grandma and grandpa’s house on a spring morning in Davison.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Lauren Hiltz of West Bloomfield captured this colorful photo of a ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on a bee balm flower at Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Jennifer Selley of Oakland Township, Michigan captured this breathtaking sunset view over the Au Sable River at Lumberman's Monument.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Shravan Kumar Mummadi of Farmington Hills captured this photo of his wife on her birthday. Of the photo, he writes, "She smiles and laughs as raindrops fall around her, making the day even more special. The joy in her heart shines brightly as she celebrates amidst the rain and balloons, surrounded by love and laughter."

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Glen Robertson of Richland, Michigan captured the Milky Way with the Point Iroquois Lighthouse in the foreground.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Kevin Anderson of Dowagiac calls this photo taken at the Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles, “Snowflake on My Heart.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Xue Ferguson of Traverse City snapped this photo of a common loon.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Lisa Zook of Atlanta, Georgia captured this view from a window in South Manitou Island's lighthouse.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - West Bloomfield photographer Lauren Hiltz caught this frog basking in the sun at Kensington Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Marguerite Eichelberger of Berrien Springs captured this American kestrel in beautiful light as it preened while perched in Berrien Springs.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Sterling Heights photographer Adam Cimochowski caught this couple at play in Lake Huron in Oscoda.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Fraser photographer Nancy Lib caught this group fleeing the water as a fast moving storm popped up in Saginaw Bay.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Shelby Township photographer Glen Suszko perfectly captured summer at the Mackinac Bridge.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Craig Bamm of Ann Arbor found this green heron catching breakfast at Lake St. Clair Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Brant Naffziger of Cheboygan photographed this wonderful display of the Northern Lights behind the Cheboygan Crib Light at Gordon Turner Park.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Hollie Raffler of Woodland made this fun photo of her daughter dancing on hay bales in Woodland.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Dennis Boatman of Wixom looked down instead of up to make this creative photos of trees in winter in Birmingham.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - We see a lot of sandhill crane photos, so it was nice to see this wonderful scenic shot by Novi photographer Sabrina Dao scenic shot instead of the usual closeup.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Escanaba photographer Seneca Hayhurst captured this great view of the Northern Lights.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Lauren Hiltz of West Bloomfield used natural light for this nice photo at Pinball PeteÕs in Ann Arbor.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Kevin Anderson of Dowagiac made a striking photo of paddle boarders at sunset in South Haven.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Ashley Lulianelli caught this postcard perfect shot of her daughters at Fishtown in Leland.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Ann Arbor photographer Craig Bamm photographed these cute 5-day-old sandhill crane colts at Kensington Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Karen Panagos of Grosse Pointe Woods found this cute goldfinch amongst the thistle at Lake St. Clair Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Karen Farrell of Traverse City caught the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team in perfect formation at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Cynthia Tittle of Shelby Township's image of a chipmunk eating an onion flower from her garden looks to us like he's casting a rod and reel, perhaps fishing for more tasty veggies. We couldn't help but smile.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Denise Gieraga of Dearborn Heights made this striking image on a 'cozy night, on Lake Columbia' in Irish Hills, Mich.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Michael Hellyer of Westland calls this image he made in Charlevoix, 'Sunset at South Pier Lighthouse.'

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Darcel Demyanovich of Wyandotte captured this poetic scene a young man fishing and the the beauty of the trees enveloping him at Mill Pond Park.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Tim Hunter of Redford captured this picture of a mother merganser trying to keep her chicks together while navigating a Detroit marsh.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Steve Elzerman of Lapeer made this stunning image of Pictured Rocks Cliffs along the Pictured Rocks Loop Trail on the shore of Lake Superior. It's a wonderful example of the transformative beauty of nature and a great example of the gorgeous views and vistas on display in our great state of Michigan.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Diana Wallace of Northville calls this photo ’Stella, Future Photographer.’ We love the great manes of hair on both child and horse. Young Stella was taking pictures of all the animals at Maybury Farm in Northville on National Camera Day.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Linda Gerstenberger of Snover, Mich. calls this image 'Swimming Gear at Grams', and we think this adorable tyke looks just like a junior Elton John.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Dennis Boatman of Wixom captured this handsome buck almost appearing to pose for the photo on a winter's day at Heritage Park in Farmington Hills.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Shawna Jackson of Brighton calls this funny photo of a fat squirrel in the snow "Heeeeeeeeey cheeeese!"

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Tina King of Sandusky, Mich. made this lovely image at Stanford County Park in Port Hope, Michigan.

SPECIAL RECOGNITiON: Candid Captures - Denise Fye of Pinckney captured this wonderful moment when her grandson "picked up the garden hose and thoroughly enjoyed soaking himself. Oh, to be a kid again!," she writes.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Craig Bamm of Ann Arbor writes of this wonderful image, “This dragon fly was perched on a weed at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. As I sat down, on the ground, and moved in closer, with my macro lens, it flew up. But, after a few seconds, it came back down to a weed that was just a few inches farther away.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Denise Fye of Pinckney captured this close up of her granddaughter meeting Ôeye to eyeÕ with a turtle at the Kensington Nature Center.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Christine English of Ludington captured this carefree moment of her granddaughter Marie Raven having a ball in the glorious O Kun-de-kun Falls in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - David Marvin of Lansing captured this image of the Michigan State Capitol at night.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - The color, texture and composition in this photo of a painted turtle, taken by Emily Shely of Niles, make for a wonderful photo. And who doesnÕt love turtles?

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Photographer Mark Pleins of Roseville made a cute photo of this youngster having fun at the Fort Fraser playground.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - West Bloomfield's Lauren Hiltz found a clean background and a willing subject to make this splendid photo of a monarch butterfly resting on a red zinnia at The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Oxford photographer Jen Spezia exercised wonderful control of her exposure to captures this classic scene of a set of stairs at a Lake Michigan sand dune.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Novi photographer Takuma Saito chose a low angle and benefited from excellent lighting to capture this frame at Night Lights at Auto City Speedway in Clio.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Lauren Hiltz of West Bloomfield made a nice choice choosing a black and white treatment for this circus performer, at the Medieval Faire at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Karen Panagos of Grosse Pointe, made this beautiful shot of a red fox kit spying on passersby at a local Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Dennis Boatman of Wixom found an interesting way to view the Cranbrook House and Gardens.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Maybe a Michigan State fan cant appreciate this view of the "Big House" by Ann Arbor's Mike Williams, but the judges sure can.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Brynn Bruestle of Livonia made a wonderful photo of her daughter during the rodeo at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Lauren Hiltz of West Bloomfield captured in stunning detail this grasshopper in a beam of sunlight in Farmington Hills.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Fox kits playing at Kensington Metropark didn't seem to mind as Dennis Boatman of Wixom bore witness to this cute scene.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - A low angle helps photographer Gregory Lechowicz of Livonia emphasize autumn in this shot of fall leaves floating on Lake Huron.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Darcel Demyanovich of Wyandotte made this spooky and cool shot of a spider web in morning fog at Elizabeth Park in Trenton.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Michael Palko of Interlochen found the perfect spot at Lake of the Clouds in the Porkies for this stunning sunrise.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Michael Damone of Clarkston made this simple but elegant photo of an egret and water lily in Independence Township.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Ethan Allen of Saint Clair Shores captured this stunning shot of the Northern Lights dancing over the Mackinac Bridge.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Mark Satawa of Bloomfield Township made this great photo of a wakeboarder on Walloon Lake.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - John Niska found this cute scene of a 4-H member sharing a much-needed nap with his calf at the Gogebic County Fair in Ironwood.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - This photo by Benjamin Craig of Columbia, Missouri, really sums up summer on Lake Michigan.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Westland photographer Nate Rose captured another great split-level photo, this time of Turnip Rock.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Marguerite Eichelberger of Berrien Springs perfectly captured in detail this hummingbird mid-flight.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - The judges love the ethereal look of these blooming bergamot at Oudolf Gardens taken by Grosse Point Woods photographer Karen Panagos.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Craig Bamm of Ann Arbor captured the coolness of this praying mantis.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - John Niska of Ontonagon Michigan snapped this photo in the Porcupine Mountains State Park west of Ontonagon while hiking. The beauty of autumn and its transition here is breathtaking, Niska says.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Adam Burns of Rochester Hills captured both a gorgeous sunset behind the Grand Haven lighthouse and another photographer capturing the same beautiful scene.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON: Views and Vistas - Gregory Seitz of Flint, Michigan calls this photo 'Cloud of Birds'. Of the scene, he says ÒWhile I was scouring the backroads of Saginaw county last October for birds or barns to photograph I came across this combination of both.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Xue Ferguson of Traverse City captured this hummingbird mom is feeding her two almost ready to fledge nestlings.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Brian Foley of Northville captured these osprey birds at Kensington Metro Park and humorously titled the photo ‘Honey, I brought home the stick you wanted!’

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Brian Foley of Northville captured these great blue herons at Kensington Metro Park and called it a ‘Family Portrait’.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Carla Hogan of Detroit captured pure joy on the face of her granddaughter Harmony in this selfie on Memorial Day 2023, in her backyard during a family get together. Hogan said, this picture was the harmonic vibe all day. Sun, love, laughter and peace.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Anne Fuller of Monroe, Michigan captured the perfect moment of splash down as her granddaughter enjoyed the backyard kiddie slide and pool in June. She calls the photo ‘First splash of Summer.’

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Anne Daugherty of Birmingham, Michigan, captured this humorous photo of her daughter spraying her horse with a hose in Howell, Michigan.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Deborah McCrary found this green heron catching a fish on a sunny day at Lake St. Clair Metropark

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Fur, Feathers and Flora - Craig Bamm was in the right place at the right time as these cute Red Fox kits were playing with their siblings at Kensington Metropark.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Allen Ouzts of Zeeland caught this moment just right as this prom couple prepared embark on the evening in this 1951 Pontiac Chieftain at Hope College in Holland.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Thomas Voss took this photo near Arcadia of the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way, and the planets Saturn and Jupiter, shining bright and large just to the left of the Milky Way core.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - Nancy Senterfit of Brownstown made a wonderful photograph of her grandson and granddaughter at the Trenton High School prom.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Candid Captures - An actor and his son made for a memorable subject for Jim Bielecki of Gaylord at a Fort Michilimackinac Memorial Day reenactment showing the Native American uprising at the fort in 1763.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Bill O’Rourke of Traverse City made a splendid photo of the town's State Theater in winter.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Views and Vistas - Gregory Lechowicz of Livonia found a great vantage point to capture the sunrise at Turnip Rock in Port Austin.