CALIFORNIA – The California Coastal Commission is now accepting submissions for its Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest until September 30, 2025.

Previous years’ winning photos include sea nettles off Municipal Wharf in Monterey, children playing seaside at Cardiff State Beach, and Bixby Bridge at sunset.

Local outdoor recreation and tourism businesses donated the contest prize packages that will be awarded to first, second, third, and fourth-place winners.

Light makes the image

Photographer Malcolm Lubliner says light makes the image – think about the subject but shoot the light.

“But amongst the most memorable of those images, the ones that put a lump in your throat, are those in which the light was a significant and descriptive player,” said Lubliner.

For the photo contest, an amateur photographer – someone who earns less than 50% of their income from photography, can take pictures featuring any of the following subjects:

• The scenic coast and Pacific Ocean off California,
• People of the California coast,
• California ocean and coastal wildlife (native species).

A maximum of five photos per entrant may be submitted. Other rules and guidelines apply. Photos must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2025.

Prize packages

The contest prize packages have been donated by the contest sponsors. They include: 

Northern California Prize Package 1:

• Gift certificate for one to go rafting
• Gift certificate for two people on a public daytime kayak tour for four hours
• $300 voucher for any sailing trip
• Gift certificate for two people on any food tour
• Gift certificate to rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak for two hours (for one person) or one hour (for two people)

Northern California Prize Package 2:

• Four general admission guest passes to the de Young Museum or Legion of Honor
• San Francisco Premier Dinner Cruise for two
• Four tickets to a whale tour
• Four deliveries of sustainable seafood for two (must be in the San Francisco Bay Area)

Central California Prize Package:

• $80 gift card toward any rental
• A guided two-hour kayaking trip in Morro Bay for two people
• $100 voucher that can be applied to a guided LED night clear kayak tour
• Gift certificate for one adult whale-watching ticket
• Gift certificate for two lunches or tea for two

Southern California Prize Package:

• Gift certificate for two people
• Gift certificate for two people on a day trip to Santa Cruz or Santa Rosa Island
• Two general admission tickets
• Four tickets to your choice of the Old Town Trolley or Seal Tours
• Gift certificate for two general admission tickets

Honorable mentions will receive a reusable water bottle.

For more information visit https://www.coastal.ca.gov/photo/