Sea Turtle entangled in fishing gear in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya (Photo Credit: Greenpeace/Carè/Marine Photobank)

Ocean In Focus 2012 Fifth Annual Conservation Photography Contest

SeaWeb’s Marine Photobank (MPB) and Lindblad Expeditions are teaming up once again to deliver a truly unique ocean photography contest highlighting photographers who dig deeper for the story behind the image.

The contest continues to focus on human impacts on ocean environments and species, both positive and negative, and the ultimate mission of the MPB: to advance ocean conservation through imagery.

Tires dumped In ocean off Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, covering reef Ocean in Focus Photo Contest 2008 (Photo Credit: Steve Spring, Reef Rescue Palm Beach County/Marine Photobank)

However, this year, the contest is going beyond highlighting a few great photographs it is recognizing the power of stories told through imagery and the important role the photographers who make them play in ocean conservation. The photography contest is awarding the top prize to a visual storyteller with a keen eye for narrative.

This contest calls on photographers of all skill levels to compete and donate photos illustrating the many human impacts on marine life and marine ecosystems as well as ways in which people are working to turn the tide on ocean degradation.

Man with Undersized Catch, Dar El Salaam fish market, the place where undersize and dynamited reef fish culminate Photo Contest 2010 (Photo Credit: Mike Markovina/Marine Photobank)

The contest will feature two phases:

Phase 1 – Photo Contest: Each photographer may submit, via the Marine Photobank website, up to 10 images for entry in the contest. Images will be assessed by a panel of expert judges and evaluated for image quality, uniqueness, clarity of issue illustrated, and whether or not they successfully convey a story as a stand-alone image. Six individuals will be selected as finalists, and they will qualify to enter the grand prize photo essay competition and a chance to win an expedition for two aboard the National Geographic Endeavour for a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Finalists will all receive a copy of Callum Roberts’ critically acclaimed book, The Ocean of Life. The photographer of the best overall individual image, as determined by the panel of judges, will also win a Solio Classic Solar Hybrid Charger, donated by Q-Cells.

The National Geographic Endavour (Photo Credit: Lindlad Expeditions)

Phase 2 – Photo Essay Contest: Finalists will then have 30 days to submit 3 to 4 images that tell an ocean conservation story. Images should either be from the same day/event or feature the same issue across time and should be the primary vehicle for the story. Finalists will write 400-600 words describing the topic illustrated in the images. Essays will not be judged on grammar and spelling but rather on substance. Judges will select one grand-prize winner from these finalists. An interview with the winner will be featured on the websites and the winner will earn a Lindblad Expeditions trip to the Galapagos Islands.

All photos contributed to the Marine Photobank are available for download for non-commercial use by membership of teachers, students, researchers, conservationists, scientists and others as well as print and Web journalists under specified media usage terms. For more information, please visit Marine Photobank website.

Bycatch from shrimp trawling being shoveled overboard, Sonora, Mexico Photo Contest 2010  (Photo Credit: Naomi Blinick/Marine Photobank)

About Marine Photobank

The Marine Photobank is a leading visual resource that has galvanized people from all over the planet to collect, share and download marine photos, images and graphics that shed light on how humans have affected life in the ocean.

The Marine Photobank was founded in response to a lack of readily available, high quality underwater and above water ocean conservation images. These images are available at no cost for non-commercial purposes as well as for media use.

Diving inside a tuna cage in a tuna farm in Procida Island, Italy. Greenpeace activists and scientists, on board the Rainbow Warrior, are touring the region to document and expose the many threats facing the Sea (Photo Credit: Marco Carè/Marine Photobank)

Source: SeaWeb

Margaret E.L. Stacey
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