The workshops and experts assembled at this event will whisk you along the learning curve of underwater photography. By the end of the week you will be shooting well enough to enter our friendly competition. The best images shot during the week will be awarded over $30,000 in prizes. Only images shot during the official event days of the Shootout may compete.

Photo Judging:
The judges will be asked to select images based on the simple question, “Would I want this image on my wall?” Secondary criteria will include technical merit, uniqueness, and difficulty. Most importantly, do not over process your images in Photoshop. Every year fantastic images are passed over due to heavy handed abuse of saturation and sharpening.

Video Judging:
The judges will be asked to rank videos based on the simple question “Do I want to share this video with friends.” Secondary criteria will be based on technical image quality, story telling, and editing.

Winner Statistics and Our Share the Wealth Policy:
Before you start thinking that you’re not good enough to compete, consider these statistics. First year Digital Shootout participants always take home the largest value in prizes... regardless of their original photo or photoshop skills. Remember, underwater competition is 40% skill, 50% right place right time, and 10% swing vote in the judging room... those are good odds!

As always, the Digital Shootout “share the wealth” rules apply. If one person wins more than one prize, they have to select their one favorite prize and all extra prizes get raffled off to the crowd! Winners that were ambitious enough to compete in both photo and video can keep their favorite prize selected from both the photo and video contest.