Macro Traditional
Any underwater image of a 7x5 inch or smaller picture area. The “Traditional” divisions allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness only. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in this category. This restriction on digital manipulation will enable people who are not as savvy at Photoshop to compete on more-or-less even ground as those with more experience. It also highlights better composition and lighting skills by not allowing cropping and cloning. We had considered a category wherein only images straight from the camera would be accepted, but as digital photographers we felt that basic digital imaging workflow involves some amount of post processing.

Macro Unrestricted
Any underwater image of a 7x5 inch or smaller picture area. The “Unrestricted” divisions have no such rules regarding digital manipulation, anything goes.

Wide Angle Traditional
Underwater images larger than a 7x5 inch picture area. The “Traditional” divisions allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness only. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in this category. This restriction on digital manipulation will enable people who are not as savvy at Photoshop to compete on more-or-less even ground as those with more experience. It also highlights better composition and lighting skills by not allowing cropping and cloning. We had considered a category wherein only images straight from the camera would be accepted, but as digital photographers we felt that basic digital imaging workflow involves some amount of post processing.

Wide Angle Unrestricted
Underwater images larger than a 7x5 inch picture area. The “Unrestricted” divisions have no such rules regarding digital manipulation, anything goes.

This contest is open to all skill levels. Only images shot during the week of the Shootout with a digital still camera may compete.

Applicable to all entrants and entries.
We are adopting the Conservation Rules established by EPIC®. Marine life should never be stressed or endangered for the sake of a photo. Entries exhibiting the following behavior will be disqualified.
1. Divers visibly damaging the environment (e.g. gear dragging or kicking up sand).
2. Animals with signs of stress (e.g. puffed puffers, inking octopus).
3. Animals moved to an unnatural environment or risky location.
4. Animals being fed (especially artificial food from divers).
5. Marine life being touched (e.g. coral polyps, seahorse tails).
6. Divers exhibiting poor buoyancy control.
Dive operators in Bonaire have always been conservation-minded. They respect the marine life and photographers should too. Any violations of the resorts diving policies may result in disqualification in the contest.

Conservation rules will apply and the judges' decision will be final. Photographers retain all copyrights to their images. The Digital Shootout retains the right to publish the contest entries to congratulate the winners and to promote future events.