Entries open for Photography Awards in United States
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Submissions are now open for the Photography Awards to draw attention to the importance of Alaska’s marine ecosystems especially interested in photographs depicting coastal and offshore seascapes, marine life, marine science, and how people connect with Alaska’s waters.
Categories for the contest include Seascapes, Marine Life, Human Connections, Photo Story, and Youth Entries. Seascapes covers Alaska’s extensive 44,000 miles of coastline, from the icy waters of the Beaufort Sea to the sheltered narrows of the Inside Passage, featuring imagery of coastal and offshore marine ecosystems. Marine Life highlights Alaska’s diverse ecosystems above and below the surface, including species of all sizes that rely on the state’s waters for survival. Human Connections focuses on how people engage with Alaska’s marine ecosystems through research, science, subsistence, and commercial fishing. Photo Story allows up to five images and 1,000 words to tell a story about Alaska’s marine waters, whether depicting an event, place, person, process, or expedition. Youth Entries encourage photographers aged 18 or younger to submit up to five images in Seascapes, Marine Life, or Human Connections, as well as an optional Photo Story.
Each year, professional and amateur photographers, as well as youth photographers, are encouraged to submit up to five images that reflect underwater sea life and marine research within the waters of the North Pacific Ocean, including the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, and the Bering Strait or Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Since its inception, more than 3,000 entries have been submitted by scientists in the field, members of coastal communities across the state, and commercial fishermen. Awards have traditionally been given for first, second, and third place in adult and youth categories. Beginning in 2024, NPRB has rebranded the Photography Awards with more categories and larger cash prizes.
One of NPRB’s hallmark productions each year is a calendar featuring photographs from the current award cycle. The calendars are distributed to all participants, NPRB Board members, Panels, scientific peer reviewers, and at major events such as the Alaska Marine Science Symposium and the Alaska Forum of the Environment.
For 2025, one $1,000 award will be presented for the Best Photo Story, while $700 will be awarded for the winning image in each of the Seascapes, Marine Life, and Human Connections categories. Youth entries will be awarded $300 and $100 for first and second place respectively. Federal employees and international entrants are welcome to submit but are not eligible for cash awards.
The contest is open to U.S. residents except NPRB staff, board members, panel members, and their immediate families. Each entrant may submit up to five images and one photo story of no more than 1,000 words. Entries must be submitted by December 1, 2025. All submissions must depict seascapes, marine life, or human connections with Alaska’s waters and adhere to the contest’s ethical and technical guidelines, including prohibitions on AI-generated images, zoo or aquarium animals, pets, and images obtained through wildlife harassment.
Entries will undergo a multi-step review process including an independent photographer review, a Science Panel review, an Advisory Panel review, and a final Board review. Judging will be based on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit.
