clc photo contest
Capturing the Commonwealth's Coastal Communities
Deadline: Monday, September 7, 2026 before 11:59pm.
As part of Virginia Sea Grant’s Coastal Leadership Conference in October 2026, Virginia Sea Grant is hosting a photo contest. VASG wants to highlight the unique perspectives of individuals across the Commonwealth through photography. We are looking for compelling photographs that capture a variety of marine and coastal aspects of Virginia.
Photo Contest Categories are as follows:
- Science & Research: Capturing the scientific research done to benefit the Commonwealth through fieldwork or laboratory work.
- Coastal Communities: Local festivals, educational summer camps, or anything that shows communities coming together and how they rely on Virginia’s waterways.
- Fisheries & Aquaculture: Actions shots on the water, tools and vessels of the trade, anything showcasing fisheries or aquaculture farms or research in VA.
- Marine Life: Animals that live in or around the waterways of Virginia.
- Coastal Landscapes: Showcasing the beauty of Virginia’s coastal landscapes
- Recreation: How Virginia’s waterways are used for recreational purposes: fishing, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, etc.
- Fan Favorite: The jury will choose a group of photos that will be posted on Coastal Leadership Conference website, where the public will be able to vote on their favorite photo. Whichever photo has the most votes will win the Fan Favorite category.
Entries must be submitted by Monday, September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
One winning photo will be selected from each category. Winners will be contacted about receiving their prize (prizes TBD.)
Additionally, each winner will receive a free ticket to the Coastal Leadership Conference evening reception and dinner on October 14 from 6-8:30pm in Virginia Beach. Winners are encouraged to attend and accompany a printed version their winning photograph. Photographers will be able converse with conference attendees about their work.
Selected entries will be featured in a story write-up on the Virginia Sea Grant website, showcased at Virginia Sea Grant’s Coastal Leadership Conference in October, displayed in the Virginia Sea Grant office headquarters in Gloucester Point, VA, and used in future VASG communications and outreach products related to the photo contest and the Coastal Leadership Conference (with appropriate photographer credit).
How to Enter
- Submit your photos using the Photo Entry and Release Form.
- Each photographer may submit up to 5 photos. A separate entry form is required for each individual photo submission.
- All photos must include photographer’s name, email address, when and where the photo was taken and what is shown in the photo.
- Photos must be taken in Virginia.
Contest Rules
- Content: Photos must be taken in Virginia. Photo submissions must not contain inappropriate, indecent, obscene or unlawful content.
- Eligibility: This contest is open to both professional and amateur photographers. Photographers must be at least 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry. You do not have to attend the Coastal Leadership Conference to enter the photo contest.
- Format: All entries must be submitted in JPEG format. High resolution (300 dpi) photos are required for printing photos for the gallery display.
- Originality: Submissions must be the original work of the entrant. We will assume that, in submitting a photo, you are the owner of the photo, and no copyright and/or trademark infringement rights have been violated.
- Permissions: If your photograph includes identifiable individuals, you are responsible for obtaining their permission to submit the image and to allow its use. If a minor (under age 18) is identifiable in the image, you must obtain written consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian.
- Photo Usage: By submitting a photo, you are granting Virginia Sea Grant a non-exclusive permission to use the photograph(s) for social media posts, outreach materials, and other uses only related to the photo contest and Coastal Leadership Conference. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Photographers retain ownership of their images, and any additional use by Virginia Sea Grant will be separately arranged with the photographer.
- Caption: All images must include the photographer’s name, email address, and a short description of when and where the photo was taken and what is shown in the photo. Submissions without this information will not be considered.
- Photo Editing: Traditional photo editing is allowed. However, AI-generated or heavily manipulated images are not permitted.
- Maximum Entries: Please limit the total number of your photo submissions to 5 entries. Additional photos will be disqualified if photographer submits more than 5 total images.
- Submission Deadline: Entries must be submitted by Monday, September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Terms and Agreements
By submitting a photograph to the Virginia Sea Grant Coastal Leadership Conference Photo Contest, you agree to the following terms:
- Eligibility: You confirm that you are at least 18 years of age at the time of submission.
- Ownership and Original Work: You represent and warrant that: You are the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph(s); the photograph(s) are original and do not infringe upon the rights of any third party; the photograph(s) have not been generated using artificial intelligence tools; you have full authority to grant the rights described below.
- Permissions and Releases: If your photograph(s) include identifiable individuals, you confirm that you have obtained their permission to submit the image and to allow its use. If a minor (under age 18) is identifiable in the image, you confirm that you have obtained written consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian. You acknowledge that you are responsible for securing any necessary permissions related to private property, vessels, trademarks, or other protected content depicted in the photograph(s).
- License to Use: By submitting your photograph(s), you grant Virginia Sea Grant a non-exclusive permission to use the photograph(s) for social media posts, outreach materials, and other uses only related to the photo contest and Coastal Leadership Conference. Photographers retain full ownership and copyright of their images.
- Editing and Formatting: You acknowledge that VASG may crop, resize, or make minor adjustments to submitted images for formatting or design purposes. VASG will not materially alter the content of the photograph in a misleading manner.
- No Compensation: Submission of a photograph does not guarantee selection. No compensation will be provided for submitted or selected photographs.
- Indemnification: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless VASG and its employees from any claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out of or related to your submission. This includes, but is not limited to claims of copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, or violations of any third-party rights.
- Right to Disqualify: VASG reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not comply with contest rules or that contain inappropriate, unlawful, or misleading content.
Conference Sponsors
