A quiet tradition that has documented Oregon’s identity for more than a century is once again turning to the public, inviting residents to define how the state will be seen in print for years to come. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has officially opened submissions for the 2027–2028 Oregon Blue Book cover photo contest, calling on amateur photographers across the state to capture images that reflect Oregon’s people, landscapes, and character.
Announced this week by Secretary of State Tobias Read, the contest marks the latest cycle in a long-running effort to involve everyday Oregonians in shaping the visual identity of the state’s official almanac. The Oregon Blue Book, first published in 1911, has served as a comprehensive reference guide to Oregon’s government, history, and institutions, while its covers have quietly become a visual archive of the state’s evolving identity.
“The iconic covers of the Oregon Blue Book are part of what makes these books so special,” Read said in announcing the contest. “I’m looking forward to seeing how our local photographers showcase the people and places in Oregon through their lens.”
The contest opened April 30, 2026, and will remain active through October 31, 2026, closing just before midnight. During that six-month window, Oregon-based amateur photographers are encouraged to submit original images that represent the state’s diversity, geography, and culture. Submissions can be made online through the Secretary of State’s website or mailed directly to the office, though selected winners will ultimately be required to provide high-resolution digital files suitable for publication.
Each contest cycle results in two selections: one image featured on the front cover and another on the back cover of the upcoming edition. Winners are expected to be announced in January 2027, giving the state time to incorporate the selected images into the next Blue Book release.
While the contest centers on photography, its broader significance lies in public participation. The Blue Book itself functions as more than a directory of agencies and elected officials. It includes detailed information on Oregon’s history, election data, educational institutions, and cultural landmarks, making it one of the most widely distributed and referenced publications produced by the state. Available both in print and online, it is often used in classrooms, libraries, and government offices as a foundational resource.
By sourcing its cover imagery from residents rather than commissioned professionals, the state continues a deliberate effort to keep the publication grounded in lived experience. The result is a rotating visual record shaped not by marketing campaigns, but by individuals documenting what Oregon looks like from their own vantage point, whether that means coastal landscapes, high desert terrain, working communities, or everyday moments that define life across the state.
The 2025–2026 edition of the Oregon Blue Book remains available for purchase through the state’s official website and independent bookstores, continuing a publication run that has remained uninterrupted for more than a century. As the next edition begins to take shape, the newly opened contest signals another opportunity for Oregonians to leave a lasting mark on one of the state’s most enduring publications.
With submissions now underway, the focus shifts from Salem to communities across Oregon, where the next defining image of the state may already be waiting behind a camera lens.