Congratulations to our 2025 Photo Contest Winners!

 

We’re riding a wave of gratitude for everyone who dove into this year’s photo contest — from the talented photographers to the fabulous finned (and flippered) stars of the show! Every entry celebrating Laguna’s Marine Protected Areas overflowed with heart, color, and deep love for our magical ocean world.

 

This year’s gallery was a total splash of wonder — bursting with vivid hues, dreamy underwater scenes, and joyful moments of humans connecting with the sea and its incredible creatures, all within the cherished boundaries of Laguna Beach’s MPAs

We’re absolutely swept away by this visual journey. These stunning snapshots don’t just capture beauty — they inspire awe, connection, and a renewed commitment to protecting our ocean’s fragile brilliance.

 

A huge shoutout to everyone who made this celebration possible — our amazing participants, our thoughtful judges, and the passionate organizers who brought it all together. Thank you for helping us turn the tide toward conservation, one photo at a time!

 

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Our sincerest appreciation goes out to each participant for their contributions, our esteemed judges, and the organizers for fostering such a magnificent celebration!

 

The Contest was judged by Laguna’s Rich German, Global Marine Scientist Julianne Steers, and legendary filmmaker and ocean advocate Greg MacGillivray. They selected the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Winners in two categories: Amateur and Professional as well as Honorable Mentions in each. This year we also added a very special Kid’s category for children 13 and under.

 

Congratulations to ALL!

AMATEUR WINNERS

First Place – “Sorcerer’s Spell” by Kaelan Housewright Second Place – “Atmosphere” by Michael Oakley Third Place – “April Showers” by Yvonne Bellgardt Honorable Mention – “Sea-lebrity” by Nicole Balchunas Honorable Mention – “Ankle Deep in Heaven” by Mike Stice Honorable Mention – “Water’s Edge” by Josh Tanaka Honorable Mention – “ Coastal Radiance” by Norm Hutton        

PROFESSIONAL WINNERS

First Place – “Heart Bubble” by Craig Hatfield Second Place – “The Littlest Kraken” by Noah Gilbert Third Place – “Sammy the Seal” by Jordan Manning                                                               . Honorable Mention – “California Scorpionfish” by Derek Tarr Honorable Mention – “That One Cloud” by Andre Magarao Honorable Mention – “Face in the Foam” by Don Leach  

KIDS (13 and Under) WINNER

First Place – “Seaweed” by Kendra B