A Chance to Prove Yourself Through the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest 2024

About Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest

In celebration of National Get Into Your Sanctuary activities, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries holds an annual photo contest from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.

Submissions will be accepted in the following categories:

1. Sanctuary Views: Participants are encouraged to share their photos of beautiful sunsets or scenic shots of their favorite national marine sanctuary.
2. Sanctuary Life: This category welcomes the best photos of sanctuary inhabitants, such as fish, birds, marine mammals, and other incredible ocean creatures.
3. Sanctuary Recreation: Participants can enter their best images of people responsibly enjoying national marine sanctuaries, whether boating, kayaking, diving, swimming or simply relaxing on the beach.
4. Sanctuaries at Home: This category invites photos showing how participants connect with the National Marine Sanctuary System from home. Submissions can include images of stewardship activities, sanctuary-related artwork, and themes from Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views.
5. Sanctuaries Around the World: Participants can submit photos showing their ocean connection from anywhere in the world, not just within national marine sanctuaries. This category accepts images taken outside national marine sanctuaries in the U.S. and abroad, focusing on marine life or natural bodies of water. Photos from zoos, aquariums, or indoor settings are discouraged.

How to participate

Participants can submit their photos from Friday, May 24, 2024, until Monday, September 2, 2024. Each photographer is allowed to submit up to 10 photos in total, with a minimum resolution of 1200 pixels on the long edge. This limit applies per person, not per category, meaning photographers can submit photos across all categories as long as the total number does not exceed 10 images. If more than 10 images are submitted, any additional photos will be disqualified. 

All submissions must include the photographer’s name, a brief description of when and where the photo was taken, and details about what is depicted in the photo. If known, the species names of any animals featured should also be included.

Submit entries: Only one form per person is required for each category.

If the online submission form cannot be used, participants should send all necessary information and photos to earthisblue@noaa.gov.

For more information: Click here

Deadline: 2 Sep, 2024

Additional Contest Rules

• By submitting a photo, participants agree to all the rules of the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. Photographers must be at least 13 years of age or older as of the first day of the contest (May 24, 2024). 
• It is assumed that, by submitting a photo, the photographer is the owner of the photo and has the right to publish it, including obtaining permission or a model release for anyone identifiably pictured. 
• By submitting a photo, participants grant NOAA permission to use the photo for various purposes, including on the NOAA website, social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications, with proper credit given to the photographer. 
• Additionally, organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use the photos submitted to promote sustainable and responsible activities within the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not intended for commercial use unless prior permission is obtained.
• Only photos taken in compliance with wildlife viewing regulations and government approach guidelines will be considered for the contest. 
• Participants are reminded not to harass animals in pursuit of the “perfect” shot. 
• All social distancing guidelines and closures recommended by the CDC, as well as state and local guidance, must be followed. 
• Photos submitted without the photographer’s information and a brief caption will not be considered. Watermarks on submitted photos are not allowed. 
• Photos should have a minimum width of 1200 pixels, with larger images preferred. Participants are limited to a total of 10 photo submissions, and any additional photos will be disqualified if more than 10 images are submitted.

Explore the beauty of nature and capture stunning moments with the “Get Into Your Sanctuary” photography contest. This is a unique opportunity for you to not only showcase your photography skills but also spread the message of environmental protection to the community. Register today to share your vision and stand a chance to win exciting prizes. Join us and turn every photo into a meaningful story!

For more information about our initiatives and upcoming events, please visit our website and Facebook page [click Here]. If you seek further details about our programs or wish to connect with us, feel free to contact the Office of Global Engagement at room 705B, located at Hoa Sen University’s Nguyen Van Trang campus in District 1, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You can also reach us via email at phonghoptacquocte@hoasen.edu.vn.