2013 Winning photo by Nirupam Nigam. Fringehead in Brittlestar bed, Anacapa Island.

2013 Winning photo by Nirupam Nigam. Fringehead in Brittlestar bed, Anacapa Island.

Blue Water Photo Store’s 2014 Shootout is just weeks away! Southern California’s premier underwater photography contest and weekend shootout is September 12-14, 2014. This weekend invites divers from all across Southern California to dive and photograph with the opportunity to enter the contest and win great prizes.

The contest brings together our local community of divers and underwater photographers, and also helps to promote local diving and the great underwater environment we enjoy here in Southern California. Categories for the shootout include both photography and video options, with a selection of specific photo categories. Entries are limited to photos taken during the shootout time frame, underwater, in the ocean. It’s also important to note that this is not a Photoshop contest; limited global edits are allowed, but the goal is to get the best photo in the camera.

This is a “virtual contest”, but submissions must have been taken on September 13th, 14th or 15th, 2013, anywhere south of Point Conception, CA and north of the Mexico border – including the Channel Islands. Diving by boat or beach is allowed.  Registration will be open throughout the contest. Blue Water Photo will be sending an official email to all registered participants the evening of September 12, 2013 with instructions on setting camera date to a point in the future. Changing the camera’s date will allow them to verify that photos have been taken during the official Shootout timeframe.

logo 2013 Shootout Highlights

Last year, more than $15,000 in prizes were awarded among hundreds of submissions. Entrants dived all over southern California, on boats, from shore at all different types of dive sites – kelp forest, canyons, wrecks, oil rigs and more.

Blue Water Photo Store is a full-service underwater camera store that offers underwater photography classes, workshops, gear, and trips. Located at 3961 Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 206 in Culver City, they also have a very comprehensive website (click here), offering the latest underwater photo and video gear for every level of expertise, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. In addition to selling a wide range of products, Blue Water Photo also has experienced, qualified staff who provide excellent service and the experience to help you select the best gear for your needs.

For more information and to register for the 2014 Shootout, visit Blue Water Photo Store by clicking here. The entry fee is just $40 to enter up to 8 images, with up to 3 per category, or $40 for up to 3 video entries. Click here to see the winning photos from the 2013 Shootout.