Photography is a powerful medium of expression that can be used to communicate strong positive messages about a subject. This open and free photo competition seeks to inspire the creation and dissemination of such positive imagery, which conveys the beauty and importance of the ocean and humankind's relation to it.
The photo competition has five thematic categories open for photographic submissions:
– Underwater seascapes
– Underwater life
– Above water seascapes
– Human Interaction: Making a Difference
– Youth Category: open category, any image of the ocean (above or below the surface)
(Youth is defined as under 16 years of age as of 1 April 2016)
The entries must be submitted electronically through the World Oceans Day Photo Competition portal in accordance
with the competition guidelines and subject to the competition rules. Winning images will be recognized at the United Nations on Wednesday, 8 June 2016 during the
United Nations event marking World Oceans Day 2016.
Winning images and finalists will form part of an information exhibit in which the photos will be paired with narratives explaining the importance of the oceans to humanity and relating humankind's positive relationship
with the ocean.
Recognition and diffusion of the winning images and finalists will be widely exposed throughout the contest websites, the
media and the informational materials related to subsequent competitions. If sponsors are secured, it may be possible for co-coordinators to award material or cash
prizes.
Contest Rules
The contest is open to entrants of all skill levels.
Photo contest staff and judges are not allowed to enter the contest.
Each individual can only win one prize or prize package.
Winners will be announced on 8 June 2016 in New York, on the occasion of the marking of 2016 World Ocean Day at the United Nations, and published here no later than June 20, 2016.
Entries may have been taken from any camera, film (as scanned slides) or digital.
Conservation Rules will be strictly observed.
Flora and fauna should never be stressed or endangered for the sake of a photo. Entries suspected of exhibiting the following behavior will be disqualified:
Photographers visibly damaging the environment (e.g. gear dragging or kicking up sand)
Animals with signs of stress (e.g. puffed puffers, inking octopus)
Animals moved to an unnatural environment or risky location
Marine life being touched (e.g. coral polyps, seahorse tails)
Divers exhibiting poor buoyancy control
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 Annual World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition: www.un.org/Depts/los/wod/photo-contest.html