The Underwater Photography Challenge focuses on bringing divers to Redondo Beach to highlight the unique ecosystem that is right under the MaST Center Aquarium. These photos give the public the opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat underwater, which many people do not have the privilege of seeing unless they are a diver. We hope that the Underwater Photography Challenge will bring Highline College, divers, and the surrounding community together to appreciate the amazing animals that call Redondo Beach home.

Photos submitted to the challenge had to be taken underwater at Redondo Beach between August 1st and October 31st 2024. We had 15 artists submit 40 images depicting a variety of animals in action. Jurors selected 1st-3rd place category winners, Juror’s Favorite, and Redondo Beach Award. The public votes, online and in person, for the Sea Worthy Award. Vote now on our Facebook page and don’t forget to follow us to see the voting results!

The Underwater Photography Challenge exhibit will be on display at the MaST Center Aquarium November 30th through the end of January.

• Triptych – 3 photos that together tell a story or otherwise pair together.  Often presented as 3 vertically oriented images.  Any Triptych submission should be converted into one image by the photographer.
• Splash of Color – a photo that showcases the colors of Redondo
• Human Impact – a photo demonstrating positive or negative human impacts
• Wide Angle – a photo showing a subject or scene 1 foot across or larger
• Eye – a photo that showcases one or more eyes from creatures living at Redondo
• Camouflage – a photo demonstrating the art of blending in
• Prey & Predator – a photo the showcases the relationship between prey and predator
• Habitat – a photo showing the various habitats found in Redondo

Each photographer may submit a total of 3 images.  Each triptych counts as 1 image. All photos must be composed to include at least 50% underwater.

The 2024 Underwater Photography Challenge is open to all scuba photographers. All photographs must be taken at Redondo Beach, WA from August 1st through October 31st, 2024 at 11:59pm PST.

We have adopted the conservation rules established by EPIC®**. Marine life should never be stressed or endangered for the sake of a photo or video. Any entrant suspected of exhibiting the following behavior will be disqualified: a. Diver(s) visibly damaging the environment (eg: dangling or dragging gear, excessive silting); b. Animals with signs of stress (eg: inking octopus); c. Animals moved to an unnatural environment or risky location; d. Animals being fed; e. Marine life being touched; ** The jurors will be asked to interpret this guideline and disqualify any images that are suspect of poor behavior.

Split shots or over under images are allowed, but all photos must be composed to include at least 50% underwater.

All entries must be submitted by the submission deadline using the submission guidelines.

Each participant is responsible for their own safety and the proper operation of their diving and photographic equipment. Highline College MaST Center Aquarium and its partners are exempt from all liability or responsibility whatsoever for all personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, however caused, including but not limited to property liability or the negligence of the released parties whether passive or active. Each participant must use their own judgment regarding diving safety.

Color touchup, cropping, spot removal and minimal cloning are allowed.  Excessive photoshopping or merging multiple images is not allowed (except for any triptych submission, you will need to use photoshop to lay 3 images side by side.  You should adhere to the standard rules for each individual image within the triptych). You may be asked to show originals.

Exhibition organizers, jurors, their spouses and their families are not eligible to submit photos for the year that they participate.

Jurors may change the category of an image to better reward an image and correct any animal misidentification in the image title or description.

Terms

After the exhibition, the MaST Center Aquarium may use the selected images online or in the aquarium for promotion related to the MaST Center Aquarium or future exhibitions for up to 2 years with option to extend.  A photo credit  and a link to the photographer will always be accompanied with any showcasing.  The MaST Center Aquarium will not own the image.