2018 CONTEST SUBJECTS

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JANUARY

MASTERS

SHRIMP – ANY LENS – From anywhere in the world. No mantis or skeleton shrimp, they are not true shrimp.

CHALLENGERS

LIONFISH – ANY LENS – From anywhere in the world. Main subject is one or more lionfish, from close macro to a wide angle scene.

FEBRUARY

MASTERS

TRANSPARENT – ANY LENS – A living subject you can see through. For example, a clear shrimp or jellyfish, certain gobies and juvenile fish. Photo must clearly show transparency by being able to see through the animal.

CHALLENGERS

SEA SLUGS – MACRO – Must be an opisthobranch mollusk which includes headshield slugs, sapsucking slugs, sidegill slugs, seahares, bubble shells and nudibranchs. Does not include flatworms.

MARCH

MASTERS

ONE COLOR – MACRO – The subject and background are the same color. The majority of the image must be one color giving a monochrome, color on color effect. It can be any one color. No black & white.

CHALLENGERS

SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD – MACRO – Most interesting use of limited depth of field to emphasize part of a subject. Only part of the subject (eyes, mouth, face, etc.) is in focus. This does NOT mean a sharp subject against a blurry background. Effect should be produced in camera, not in post processing.

APRIL

MASTERS

TRIGGERFISH & FILEFISH – ANY LENS – Any triggerfish or filefish from around the world as the main subject.

CHALLENGERS

PIERS – WIDE ANGLE – Best underwater shot of a pier where the pier is the main subject. NO over/under shots.

MAY

MASTERS

THE UPSIDE DOWN – ANY LENS – (In honor of Netflix “Stranger Things”) Photo of an animal in an upside down position. Example: upside down jellyfish, filefish hovering with head pointed down, shrimp or crab hanging from the underside of a cave or ledge, etc. Must be clear in the photo that the animal is actually upside down and it is not just a flipped photo.

CHALLENGERS

GREEN FLASH – ANY LENS – Main subject must be primarily green in color.

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.

JUNE

MASTERS

RAINBOW REEFS – WIDE ANGLE – Reef scene with lots of different colors.

CHALLENGERS

TEETH – ANY LENS – Photo that is all about the teeth of a fish. Composition must emphasize the teeth. Examples: Lizardfish, Barracuda, Sharks, Fang Blennies, Parrotfish, etc.

JUNE VIDEO CONTEST

BEST SINGLE VIDEO CLIP – One continuous video clip not to exceed 30 seconds. May add music and title, but no merging of multiple clips.

JULY

MASTERS

LIGHT & SHADOW – ANY LENS – Creative use of side or back lighting.

CHALLENGERS

COMMENSALISM – ANY LENS – Two different animals that normally live together where one or both benefit but neither is harmed. Example: clownfish & anemone, remora & fish, shrimp & urchin, blind shrimp & goby. NO cleaning stations.

AUGUST

MASTERS

FRAMED – ANY LENS – Best composition with a natural element or manmade structure framing your subject on at least three sides.

CHALLENGERS

OUT OF THE DARKNESS – ANY LENS – Any subject against a black background. Can be shot in the day or night. Effect should be created in camera, not in post processing. NO Black Water images. Snoots are allowed.

SEPTEMBER

MASTERS

BLUE BACKGROUND MACRO – MACRO – Macro subject with an open exposure to produce a blue background.

CHALLENGERS

RULE OF THIRDS – ANY LENS – Best composition using the rule of thirds. Subject matter and lens choice are open. Compose in camera, not by cropping afterwards. No more than 10% cropping allowed. You can learn about the Rule of Thirds HERE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

OCTOBER

MASTERS

SHIPWRECK IN THE ENVIRONMENT – WIDE ANGLE – Show a shipwreck in its environment, surrounded on all sides by water, sand, reef. In other words, not just a part of a wreck or interior of a shipwreck.

CHALLENGERS

WIDE ANGLE FEATURING HARD CORALS – WIDE ANGLE – Wide angle scene with hard corals as the main subject. Can feature a single brain coral, a stand of Elkhorn or a vast hard coral garden.

OCTOBER VIDEO CONTEST

FAVORITE DIVE OR DESTINATION – Edited video from a single dive, a favorite dive site or your favorite dive destination. Maximum 2 minutes.

NOVEMBER

MASTERS

DINNER TIME – ANY LENS – A predator catching and/or eating its prey. Prey must be clearly visible.

CHALLENGERS

SHOOTING DOWN – ANY LENS – Best composition using a high viewpoint shooting straight down on a subject.

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.