Underwater Photography Challenge
Calling all underwater photographers! We are making a call for submissions to MaST Center Aquarium’s 2026 Underwater Photography Challenge! All photo entries must be taken at Redondo Beach, WA between August 1st – October 31st, 2026. A panel of jurors will select images to be printed and showcased at the MaST Center Aquarium and online. The selected images will be exhibited at the MaST Center Aquarium from December 2026 through February 2026. The public will be asked to vote for their favorite image for special recognition. All photographers of the selected photos can choose to offer their print for sale, keep the print, or donate to the MaST Center Aquarium.
The image submission period is October 15th – 31st, with the deadline on October 31st, 2026 by 11:59pm PST. We look forward to your submissions!
Categories
- 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.
Jurors
Rus Higley – Director, MaST Center Aquarium
Aeriel Wauhob – Community Engagement Coordinator, MaST Center Aquarium
Malik Johnson – Lead Aquarist, MaST Center Aquarium
and 2 Special Guest Judges!
Jurors will select the following:
- Top 3 of each category
- Jurors’ Favorite
- Redondo Beach Award
Sea Worthy Award voted on by the public visiting the MaST Center Aquarium or on our social media platforms.
Eligibility and Entry
The 2026 Underwater Photography Challenge is open to all scuba photographers. All photographs must be taken at Redondo Beach, WA from August 1st through October 31st, 2026 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. 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.