Bluewater Boat Shootout 2019 Registration

Registration is Open!!

Win one of four dive resort and liveaboard packages.

Only divers on one of the two official shootout boats are eligible to enter.

Signing up confirms your spot for the 2019 Bluewater Boat Shootout. Please look for official rules and entry information sent out the week of the contest. Information on how to upload your photos and video will be emailed to all participants the week of the contest as well.

Again this year we will be providing t-shirts to all entrants, please select your t-shirt size above. Please note in order to ensure you receive the size requested, you must register before Sept 12, 2019.

Instructions & Entry Fees

• $40 USD to enter up to 8 images
• $40 USD for up to 3 video entries
• Mix-and-match is ok.  1 video = 3 photo entries (i.e. you can enter 1 video and 5 photo entries)
• Enter photos via our upload form, JPEG format, at least 2500 pixels at the longest length. RAW files will be required from all winners
• Enter videos via our upload (ftp) form, .mov or .m4v or .wmv format.
• Prizes will be awarded based on a point system. The winners of each major division (Open, Novice, and Video) will be awarded one of the 4 prizes. Winners will rank their prize choices.
• Please send any questions to contest@bluewaterphotostore.com.

Rules

This is a virtual competition, but submissions must be taken during the contest weekend on either the Bluewater 2-Day Santa Barbara Boat Trip, or the Bluewater Sunday Oil Rigs Trip.

Registration will be open until Thursday at 5PM.

We will be sending an official email to all registered participants on Thursday afternoon, September 12th, 2019 before 6PM with instructions on setting camera date to a point in the future. Changing the camera's date will allow us to verify that photos have been taken during the Shootout timeframe. Photographers who register in the hours after the official email is sent out will receive the information as soon as we can process their registration, but this may be several hours (note emails are sent during store hours, 10am-6pm). Please register before Sept 12th to make sure you get the right t-shirt size and all Shootout information!

All photo and video entries will be due by 11:59pm on Monday, September 16th, 2019.

• We pledge to run this contest ethical and with integrity. Judges will not know whose photos or videos they are judging.
• You retain copyright to your photos, and photos will only be used by us when promoting this and future SoCal Shootout Competitions or the winners.
• Please use our upload (ftp) form to submit your photo and video files in the appropriate formats, and for each entry chose one of our 10 categories.
• Entry categories:

• Open
  • Wide-Angle – Open
  • Macro – Open
  • Behavior – Open
  • Portrait – Open

• Novice
  • Wide-Angle – Novice
  • Macro – Novice
  • Behavior – Novice

• Video
  • Video – Unedited
  • Video – Edited

• Photo Format & Editing:  Submit entries in JPEG format, at least 2500 pixels at the longest length.   Only global changes are allowed as editing.  This includes exposure, white balance, saturation, contrast and clarity.  Cropping is strictly limited to removing 20% in either or both dimenisions. For example, a 3000x3000 pixel photo can be cropped to 2400x2400, or any lesser crop - 2399x2400 would not be allowed. No backscatter removal, cloning, or any local adjustments are allowed.  RAW files will be required from all winners to verify date and editing rules.
• Unedited Video Format & Editing:  Format must be .mp4, .mov, .m4v or wmv.  Each video must be a maximum of :60s in length and can be comprised of no more than a single clips with no transitions, titles, music, etc.  Color level and start/end point adjustment is ok.  Original formats will be required from all winners to verify date and editing rules that aren't carried over while reformatting.
• Edited Video Format & Editing:   Format must be .mp4, .mov, .m4v or wmv.  Each video must be a maximum of 120 seconds in length, any music used must be copyright free.
• Photos & Video must be taken underwater. Split shots ok. Starting above water and moving below water in one uncut shot is also OK.
• All photos & video must have been taken on September 13th, 14th, or 15th 2019 with camera metadata set using the appropriate "secret date" that will be sent to all registrants.
• Photos must be taken in the ocean from one of the two shootout boats, or will be automatically disqualified.
• Photos or video taken as a result of harassment to marine life that could be harmful to the subject may be disqualified at the judges' discretion. Fish in photos must be alive.
• We encourage safe diving and cannot predict diving conditions in Southern California at the time of the contest.  Please use your dive training and common sense to dive safely and avoid injury.  Bluewater Photo is exempt from all liability whatsoever for any personal injury, property damage or wrongful death of divers registered for the contest.