Updated Wed., 5/16 – Nine photographers from Wisconsin earned top honors for their entries in the Department of Natural Resources’ fourth annual “Wisconsin’s Great Lakes” photography contest. Their photos will be featured in a calendar available this summer at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Rob Wiener of Eagle River, Tracy Martinez of Madison, Roy Radosevich of Gilbert, Ariz., and Cheryl Toeller of West Chicago, Ill., won first place honors in the contest’s four categories.

Jonah Agpoon of Wauwatosa, David Herrick of Spooner, Matthew John George of Milwaukee, Kevin Naze of Algoma, and Marc Ponto of Milwaukee won second place for their photographs. Ponto, Herrick, Wiener and George also submitted photos that received “honorable mention” awards.

Their photos will be featured in the 2012-2013 sixteen-month calendar that DNR’s Office of the Great Lakes will give out at the 2012 Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Aug. 2-12, 2012, according to Jo Temte, the Great Lakes office water specialist who coordinates the contest.

Photographers from across Wisconsin as well as from Minnesota, Illinois, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona submitted more than 350 photographs.

“We were overwhelmed by the response again this year,” said Steve Galarneau, who directs DNR Office of the Great Lakes. “These stunning photos help us show what spectacular resources Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are for Wisconsin.”

DNR also coordinates a “Wisconsin’s Great Lakes” Writing Project and this year received 18 poems, which can be found on DNR’s Great Lakes webpage. Visit dnr.wi.gov and search for Great Lakes. Poems by Marilyn Zelke-Windau and Georgia Ressmeyer of Sheboygan Falls and Connie Pelton of Waunakee will be featured in this year’s calendar.

DNR’s Office of the Great Lakes will begin accepting photos for next year’s contest starting Aug. 1, 2012, Temte said.