2017 CONTEST SUBJECTS

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. CONTESTS
  3. 2017 CONTEST SUBJECTS

JANUARY

MASTERS

SEA SNAKES – ANY LENS – From anywhere in the world.

CHALLENGERS

IN THE SAND – ANY LENS – Any critter that lives or sits on sand or rubble.

FEBRUARY

MASTERS

AMBIENT LIGHT – WIDE ANGLE – No strobes on this one.

CHALLENGERS

FISH KISSING – ANY LENS – Fish must be lip to lip.

MARCH

MASTERS

FISH PATTERNS – ANY LENS – Show off the beautiful color patterns that fish have.

CHALLENGERS

MANATEE BEHAVIOR – WIDE ANGLE – Manatee must be doing a behavior i.e. feeding, sleeping, nursing, chewing on a rope.

APRIL

MASTERS

OCEAN IN MOTION – WIDE ANGLE – Be creative (in camera only, not in post processing). Example image could show current, split shots with waves, fish swimming in the same direction, etc.

CHALLENGERS

CRAB BEHAVIOR – ANY LENS – Mating, molting, eggs, swimming (hermit crabs included).

MAY

MASTERS

UNDERWATER FLORAL – ANY LENS – Image must have a flower-like shape. i.e. hard corals, soft corals, feather worms, freshwater flowers.

CHALLENGERS

PHOTOBOMB – ANY LENS – A composition where another critter swims or crawls into the picture and it works.

JUNE

MASTERS

CAMOUFLAGE – ANY LENS – Any animal that clearly blends into the background or what it is sitting on.

CHALLENGERS

BLACK & WHITE – ANY LENS – Can give certain scenes or animals a striking, timeless quality when done well. Focus on light and shadows and texture and shape.

PRINTABLE .PDF

For a printable version of this years contest subjects, click here:

2026 CONTEST SUBJECTS

VIDEO CONTEST RULES

Click here to view or print the video contest instructions:

VIDEO CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

PHOTO CONTEST RULES & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Photos must be taken underwater by the entrant. No aquarium or pool shots.

Each month the contest is divided into two categories – Masters and Challengers, each with different subjects to promote participation by all SFUPS members of all skill levels.

A maximum of 2 images per person may be submitted per meeting.

Read More…

NOTE:

If you are uncertain about what qualifies in a category, please consult a reputable guidebook such as Humann/DeLoach’s reef set. If still in doubt, contact Eleanor Hornberger well before the contest. She will be happy to clarify a potential submission to confirm if it fits the category.

JULY

MASTERS

STARS & STRIPES – ANY LENS – Either the shape of stars or stripes in the photo, can be a photo of animals with a stripe pattern or even a starfish.

CHALLENGERS

CLEANING STATIONS – ANY LENS – Any animal pairing where it is apparent that cleaning is occurring (no parasites or hitch-hikers).

AUGUST

MASTERS

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION – ANY LENS – Photo has to have more than 6 subjects in the frame of the same species (i.e swimming animals like fish or dolphins).

CHALLENGERS

DIVERS & WRECKS – WIDE ANGLE – Must have both diver(s) and a wreck in the frame.

SEPTEMBER

MASTERS

MARINE OR FRESHWATER MAMMALS – ANY LENS – Including otters, dolphins, whales, etc. (no manatees)

CHALLENGERS

TURTLES – ANY LENS – Can be freshwater turtles or sea turtles.

OCTOBER

MASTERS

BLACK WATER – MACRO – Any creature photographed at night in open water. (i.e. Black Water) Must have a black background and no visible reef or ocean floor.

CHALLENGERS

SCARY EYES – MACRO – Two eyes or one eye close ups that have a scary or creepy look to them.

NOVEMBER

MASTERS

CEPHALOPODS – ANY LENS – Squid, Octopus, Cuttlefish.

CHALLENGERS

BOAT OR DIVE FLAG OVER/UNDER – WIDE ANGLE – Image must show either a boat or dive flag or both in the frame. This is an over/under category. Part of the photo must be out of the water and part underwater.

PRINTABLE .PDF

For a printable version of this years contest subjects, click here:

2026 CONTEST SUBJECTS

VIDEO CONTEST RULES

Click here to view or print the video contest instructions:

VIDEO CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

PHOTO CONTEST RULES & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Photos must be taken underwater by the entrant. No aquarium or pool shots.

Each month the contest is divided into two categories – Masters and Challengers, each with different subjects to promote participation by all SFUPS members of all skill levels.

A maximum of 2 images per person may be submitted per meeting.

Read More…

NOTE:

If you are uncertain about what qualifies in a category, please consult a reputable guidebook such as Humann/DeLoach’s reef set. If still in doubt, contact Eleanor Hornberger well before the contest. She will be happy to clarify a potential submission to confirm if it fits the category.