Deadline: August 31

Sponsor: Pro Mate, IYOR2008, Body Glow,CWIC  and a lot more

Read More: 2008 Reef Check Under Water Photo Contests

Summary:

In celebration of the International Year of the Reef 2008, Reef Check is running an International “What do reefs mean to you?” Photo Contest.  The contest will highlight the numerous ways in which people value their local reefs through activities such as diving, snorkeling, surfing and fishing, as well as indigenous cultural activities and commercial ventures such as tourism.  The goal is to persuade people, through appreciation of these images, to take actions that benefit these ecosystems.  The contest is open to anyone except employees of Reef Check Foundation and the following contest Sponsors.  It is a condition of entry that all participants sign up to become Reef Check members and maintain their full contact details for the duration of the contest. The contact details will be used to contact the winners.  One digital image may be entered in each category. The same image may not be entered in more than one category. Black and White images are acceptable in all six categories which are People and the Reef, Creative Visions of Coral Reefs, Animal Behavior, Teams in Action, Indicator Organisms, and Beauty of the Reef.  Images entered in the categories People and the Reef, Creative Visions of the Reef and Animal Behavior must have been taken on a coral reef from any part of the world.  Images entered in the categories Teams in Action and Indicator Organisms must have been taken in the US state of California only.  Images entered in the category “Beauty of the Reef” can be taken at a tropical reef or a California reef, and the photographer must be 16 or younger by the entry date.  All entries must be original digital images, or files of scanned transparencies or prints.  All entries must be submitted as digital files via the contest page on the www.reefcheck.org website. Photo prints and transparencies will not be accepted.  All participants should submit digital images with a maximum size of 10 MB. However, when taking photos, we would recommend using the highest resolution settings and format.  Digital Adjustments are acceptable in all categories if limited to global adjustments of white balance, tonal range, color balance, saturation, minor backscatter removal, cropping, dodge & burn, sharpening, and noise reduction. Digital composites are only permissible in category 2 (Creative Visions of the Reef).  Please note the intention is for images to remain photorealistic while capturing the overall contest theme, encouraging creativity, originality, and vision in the appropriate categories. Images may be cropped before submission to either a 4:3 or square format.  Digital images must not be adjusted beyond this rule prior to submission. 

Deadline: August 22, 2008

Read More: CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION 2008 PHOTO CONTEST

Summary:

Entry is free and open to all amateur photographers.  An amateur photographer is defined as someone who earns less than 50 percent of their income from photography.  The Coastal Commission is seeking photographs that reflect the importance that the coast has for California residents and the role that the Coastal Commission has played in preserving coastal resources.  Entrants are encouraged to submit photos of the following subjects:  the scenic coast, people and the coast, and coastal wildlife.  Photographs must be taken from a public place. Plants and animals depicted in photos should be native species in their natural setting.  Examples of non-native species include iceplant, pampas grass, and tropical fish.  Examples of non-natural settings include a fish tank or public aquarium.  Photographs must be in color and be 8 x 12 or smaller.  Prints or slides may be submitted.  Digital photographs may be submitted if they are printed.  Images must not have been digitally altered after they were taken (other than cropping or other procedures that can be done in a darkroom).  Photos should be printed in true color and will be judged considering the quality of the print submitted.  Photographs submitted must be the original work and exclusive property of the photographer. It is not necessary to mount or frame photographs.