2021 CONTEST SUBJECTS

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JANUARY

MASTERS

SUPER MACRO – MACRO – You MUST display proper use of a diopter appropriate for your camera and lens. Think of images that have achieved nearly maximum magnification showcasing an appropriate subject. Creative lighting is encouraged but not required. Limit cropping to no more than 10 percent. Submission deadline: January 2nd

CHALLENGERS

DEFINED UNDERWATER STRUCTURES – WIDE ANGLE – It can be pilings from a pier or dock, UW statue, oil platforms, or other man-made structures. Artificial reefs can work as well, and sunken motorcycles, cars and planes are great ideas too! No shipwrecks or sunken boats are permitted in this month’s contest. Take time to consider your composition. Submission deadline: January 2nd

VIDEO

NO VIDEO CONTEST

FEBRUARY

MASTERS

LOVE – ANY LENS – Showcase love in the best way possible using the underwater world. Fighting and competitive mating behaviors are not allowed. Be creative. No humans or humans touching animals allowed. Submission deadline: January 30th

CHALLENGERS

HEARTS – ANY LENS – Showcase your best natural heart shape found underwater. This could be whip coral, the shape of a coral or sponge, or even a distinct shadow. No manipulation of living things, it must be photographed at an angle that clearly shows it is shaped like a heart. No artificially manufactured hearts or props permitted. No pool shots or people. Submission deadline: January 30th

VIDEO

DRIFTING – Show the motion of moving along a drift dive. Wide angle of view. Should show the smooth movement of drifting in the current and not merely swimming, which will not be as smooth. Appropriate music is encouraged but not required. 1 minute maximum. Submission deadline: January 30th

MARCH

MASTERS

WINGS – ANY LENS – Fish displaying fins that resemble wings. Ex: flying gurnard with fins extended, swimming scorpionfish, manta or eagle ray. Submission deadline: February 27th

CHALLENGERS

SHOW US YOUR CLOUDS – ANY LENS – How often have you taken a photo only to realize later that you managed to photograph clouds in the sky as well as your subject? Can be any lens but most common with a wide angle lens. Must have a main subject in the photo where the clouds can be seen in the background. This can be an underwater or over/under shot. Submission deadline: February 27th

VIDEO

NO VIDEO CONTEST

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.

APRIL

MASTERS

TRASH TO TREASURE – ANY LENS – Any photo of a fish or marine critter living in human garbage or using ocean trash in some way. Could be a larval stage fish hiding in plastic, blennies living in a bottle, a seahorse hanging on to an abandoned shopping cart or tire. Submission deadline: April 3rd

CHALLENGERS

BEACH BALLS – ANY LENS – Showcase fish, critters, coral, or algae that have a round shape like a beach ball. Animals in distress cannot be used; ie. puffed-up pufferfish. Submission deadline: April 3rd

VIDEO

SLOW-MO MAN – Either film your subject in slow motion mode or convert to slow motion in post processing. Artistically show the movements of a creature or creatures. Subject matter is open. Appropriate music is encouraged but not required. 1 minute maximum. Submission deadline: April 3rd

MAY

MASTERS

CREATIVE BOKEH BACKGROUND – ANY LENS – Images with a beautiful or creative bokeh background. Can be natural or reflections from a man-made background. Must be done in camera. No Photoshop plugins allowed. Submission deadline: May 1st

CHALLENGERS

VERY HAIRY – ANY LENS – Show us your best hairy fish or critter. Subject must have the appearance of having hair, whether it is many skin protrusions, algae resembling hair or covered in small spines. Ex: hairy frogfish, hairy squat lobster, orangutan crab, hermit crab with hairs all over its body. Does not include hairs or algae on a hermit crabs second-hand shell, must be on the body of the critter. No sea urchins. No hairy humans permitted. Submission deadline: May 1st

VIDEO

NO VIDEO CONTEST

JUNE

MASTERS

SNELL’S WINDOW – WIDE ANGLE – Your image must properly showcase Snell’s window and at least one subject. Sunbursts and/or clouds in the background will certainly add some wow factor. Snell’s window must be clearly visible in the background. Submission deadline: May 29th

CHALLENGERS

DENTIST APPOINTMENT – ANY LENS – Cleaning stations showing cleaner in or on the fish’s mouth. Other cleaners may be present but the focus of the photo must be cleaning of the fish’s mouth, and not any other part of the body. Submission deadline: May 29th

VIDEO

THE CLEANERS – Show the action of one or more cleaning stations. 1 minute maximum. Submission deadline: May 29th

JULY

MASTERS

SHARKS AS ART – ANY LENS – For shark week show us an unusual image of a shark, not straight on or a side shot. Suggestions: close up of just the eye or just the teeth, tail shot, shot from above or below. An artistic shot, not a text book photo of a shark. Submission deadline: July 3rd

CHALLENGERS

RAYS ARE JUST FLAT SHARKS – ANY LENS – Any non-shark, non-chimaera elasmobranch. I.e. rays, skates and guitarfishes. Submission deadline: July 3rd

VIDEO

NUDI WORLD – Showcase the beauty, behavior and movement of nudibranchs. Other types of sea slugs, such as headshield and sap-sucking slugs, can be included. No flatworms allowed. 1 minute maximum. Submission deadline: July 3rd

AUGUST

MASTERS

NON-FLORIDA WRECKS – WIDE ANGLE – Show us your best images of wrecks taken outside of Florida waters. Provide the name of the wreck and location in the title for verification purposes. Submission deadline: July 31st

CHALLENGERS

FLORIDA WRECKS – WIDE ANGLE – Submit your best wreck image taken in Florida waters. Provide the name of the wreck and location in the title for verification purposes. Submission deadline: July 31st

VIDEO

NO VIDEO CONTEST

SEPTEMBER

MASTERS

PERFECT SYMMETRY – ANY LENS – Symmetrical portraits, that is. Head on view where the animal is the same on both sides. (Example: eyes and fins in the same position on both sides). Submission deadline: September 4th

CHALLENGERS

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS – ANY LENS – The image must show a known symbiotic relationship. Two creatures that normally live together where one or both benefit from the other, but neither is harmed. No parasitic relationships. No cleaning stations. Submission deadline: September 4th

VIDEO

SYMBIOTIC MEDLEY – Showcase three or more different symbiotic relationships. Two critters living together where one or both benefit from the relationship but neither are harmed. Therefore, parasitic relationships are not included. 90 seconds maximum. Submission deadline: September 4th

OCTOBER

MASTERS

HALLOWEEN LIGHTING – ANY LENS – Up-lighting on your subject, best portraying them in a spooky way. Up lighting is a popular lighting effect created by strategically placing lighting sources below/under the subject and pointing them up, thus creating the effect of ‘up-lighting’. Submission deadline: October 2nd

CHALLENGERS

SPOOKY SNOOTING – ANY LENS – Frighten us with your best snooted underwater monster. Don’t have a snoot device? Find a snoot buddy or make your own! Remember, nothing too cute or pretty; it should be spooky. Submission deadline: October 2nd

VIDEO

NO VIDEO CONTEST

NOVEMBER

MASTERS

A GROUP OF GROUPERS – WIDE ANGLE – A composition with 3 or more Goliath Groupers with supporting background. For example, a wreck in the background or alongside the goliath groupers, or a school of fish surrounding them. Submission deadline: October 30th

CHALLENGERS

JUST BELOW THE SURFACE – ANY LENS – A photo that showcases the subject and its reflection or portion of its reflection on the surface. No over/under shots. Submission deadline: October 30th

VIDEO

ON THE PROWL – Natural hunting, predation and feeding behavior. Hand-feeding sharks, or any other human intervention with your subject is not allowed. 2 minutes maximum. Submission deadline: October 30th

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.