Photos Showcased in Inaugural Capture The Dark Sky Contest
Congratulations to the winners of the Capture the Dark Sky Contest!
2026 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Grand Prize: Cameron Wilcox, “Ceiling of Stars”
Night Sky Category
1st Place: Cameron Wilcox, “Ceiling of Stars”
2nd Place: Justin Miller, “Beaver Island Lighthouse and the Milky Way”
3rd Place: William Curtis, “Milky Way above Trestle Bridge on Cheboygan River”
Deep Space Object Category
1st Place: Michele Aucello, “Gilbert and the Comet”
2nd Place: Jawad Bouhamdan, “The Cygnus Wall”
3rd Place: Matthew Bond, “Flame and Horsehead Nebula”
Aurora Category
1st Place: Ethan Allen, “White Shoal Aurora”
2nd Place: Meg Barber, “Dreams Do Come True”
3rd Place: Quinn Keon, “Aurora”
Winners of the Inaugural Capture the Dark Sky Photo Contest were announced during the Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop and Weekend in an awards ceremony on Friday, March 20, 2026. Click here to view more contests and opportunities.
Watch for the return of the contest in its second round later in 2026!
Enter the Inaugural Capture the Dark Sky Contest
Deadline: February 28, 2026
The Capture The Dark Sky celebrates Michigan’s extraordinary night skies, showcasing the photographers who document them, in a collaborative effort to decorate the walls of Headlands International Dark Sky Park!
Offering up to $1,500 in cash prizes, the contest will invite entries to win in three categories:
1. The Night Sky
2. Aurora
3. Deep Space Objects
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $225, a printed display with a bio card at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, and a featured social media post by MAC & MCAAC.
The Grand Prize and the Winners of each category with be unveiled in an Award Ceremony at the 4th Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop on March 21, 2026, (free registration required to attend). The deadline to enter is February 28, 2026. Please follow the guidelines on the contest website to submit your entries.
This contest is a collaboration between the Mackinaw City Area Arts Council, the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Good luck, everyone!
Please note that a minimum number of entries must be received in order to award full cash prizes.
Photography Specifications
Recommended Sizes: JPEG with a maximum dimension of 1920 to 3840 pixels on the long edge, a file size under 5MB-50MB, and 300 DPI
In general: Dimensions (Pixels): Aim for 1920 x 1080 (HD), 1920 x 1280 (3:2 ratio), or up to 3840 pixels wide for high-resolution screens.
File Type/Format: JPEG is preferred.
File Size: Prefer to keep file size between 5MB TO 50MB. Resolution (DPI/PPI): While PPI doesn’t matter for screen, 300 DPI is recommended for versatility. Color Profile: sRGB works best
Visit the Capture The Dark Sky Website for details: TinyUrl.com/CaptureTheDarkSky
Michigan Aurora Chasers 