What are the dates of the contest?

Contest submissions will be accepted Thursday, May 01, 2025, through Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Public voting will occur Wednesday, May 28, 2025 through Thursday, June 5, 2025. Winners will be notified and confirmed by email and/or telephone before they are publicly announced the week of June 25, 2025.

How do I submit a photo or video to the contest?

Before entering, make sure you have your photos and video ready to go! Ensure your images are between 1-50 MB at 300 dpi, video must be less than 250 MB and less than two minutes long. Rename your files with your first and last name and image title (Ex. Jane_Doe_BeachSunrise). Submit your photo or video through our submission portal.

What are the categories?

• Human Impact
  Whether it’s a storm surge due to climate change, or fishing gear removed from a local waterway, how are humans making an impact on our ocean? Rescue efforts, trash cleanups, marine pollution, oil spills, etc. Send in your photos to inspire individuals to take action for our ocean.
• Marine Wildlife
  Goblin shark glamour shots? Sea slug selfies? Porpoise portraits? We love to see ‘em ALL. Submit your most amazing photos of ocean wildlife for your chance to win.
• Spectacular Seascapes
  From coral reefs to sensational sunrises, these photos will always leave us in awe of our ocean. We can’t wait to see your incredible coastlines and spectacular seascapes.

What are the prizes?

• The Judges’ Choice—The Grand Prize: $1,500 cash prize
  Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges from among the eligible entries based on the quality of the contestant’s entry and how well the images convey the theme of the contest. The panel will select one grand prize winner. All decisions of the judging panels are final. You do not need to collect votes to win the Judges’ Choice.
• People’s Choice Winner: $500 cash prize
  One entry will be selected by public voters as the winner. The eligible submission that receives the most eligible public votes during the Voting Period will be deemed the People’s Choice winner.
• Staff Choice Winners: $500 cash prize
  One entry will be selected by Ocean Conservancy staff as winner. The eligible submission that received the most eligible staff votes during the Voting Period will be deemed the Staff Choice winner.
• All winning photographs and video will be featured on the Ocean Conservancy website and social media. The Judge’s Choice winner will be featured in Ocean Conservancy’s 2027 calendar, and People’s Choice winner and Staff Choice winner may be selected to appear in Ocean Conservancy’s 2027 calendar.

Which kinds of photos are eligible for the contest?

The subject matter of the photograph or video submission must consist of marine wildlife or marine habitats and must be photographed in a natural setting. Shots of aquariums, pools or other captive locations will not be accepted. Photographs or video of divers touching or stressing marine wildlife will not be accepted. Photographs or video that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or that cause damage to the environment by the photographer will not be accepted. Photographs or video created by or with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence tools are ineligible.

Photographs or video containing imagery inconsistent with the programs and policies of Ocean Conservancy will be deemed ineligible. If your entry is deemed ineligible, it will be disqualified and removed from the contest website. Review our terms and conditions for additional details.

How old do I have to be to enter/participate in the contest?

The contest is open to everyone. However, if you are 18 years old or younger, you may participate in the contest only with the permission and assistance of your parent(s) or guardian(s). There may be restrictions on which prizes someone who is under 18 years of age can win. Review our terms and conditions for additional details.

Can I enter even though I do not live in the United States?

Yes. Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents can enter the contest. However, there may be restrictions on which prizes non-U.S. residents are eligible to win. Review our terms and conditions for additional details.

Do I have to pay or donate to enter the contest?

No. You do not have to pay or donate to enter the contest—submitting your photograph or video and participating in our voting rounds are free.

How often may I vote?

Voting is limited to one vote per person per day, as determined by your IP address.

How do you select the winners?

One winner will be selected by a public vote. The eligible photograph or video with the highest total votes wins. Share your entry with your family and friends and encourage them to vote for your entry to increase your chances of winning.

One winner will be selected by a vote of Ocean Conservancy staff. The eligible photograph or video with the highest total of votes wins. You do not need to collect public votes to win the Staff Choice prize.

The winner of the Judges’ Choice will be determined by a panel of judges. The photograph that receives the highest average score will receive the Judges’ Choice prize. You do not need to collect public votes to win the Judges’ Choice Category.

What do you do with the photographs and video after the contest?

Your entries help Ocean Conservancy reach our conservation goals! After the contest, all submissions are added to our internal asset library and used throughout the year to inspire ocean lovers to take action on behalf of our ocean. You may see your image or video on our blog, in an email, on Instagram or other marketing efforts.

Can I enter the contest through the mail, or by emailing you a photograph?

No, the only way to enter the photo contest is through our website: lunverosia.com/photocontest. If you do not have any digital images of your photo, you can use a scan of a printed photo (saved as a jpeg file) to upload when entering the contest.

Still have questions?

Email us anytime: [email protected]