Rules & Information
If you’d like to be added to the reminder mailing list for Shades of Colour entry dates, please CLICK HERE!
Categories & Prize Information
When you enter, make sure to tell us what camera make and model you're using (and any other pertinent details, the more the merrier) and then we'll know what category to enter your pic into.
| Interchangeable Lens Camera category winner | NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher |
| Interchangeable Lens Camera category highly commended | NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher |
| Point & Shoot Camera category winner | NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher |
| Point & Shoot Camera category highly commended | NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher |
Entry limit: 3 per person.
Judging
Judging is performed by Sea Tech Ltd. We anonymize your images as much as possible so as not to unintentionally bias the outcome.
Judging criteria
Criteria may evolve over time. Judges reserve the right to change criteria as they see fit.
- Composition - including cropping, photoshop
- Focus - is it in focus? Where is the focus?
- Light and shadow - blacks are black, whites are white, no distracting shadows
- Subject matter / Wow factor
- Originality of image
Rules
- New Zealand or Australian residents only may enter as of 2021.
- Images should be in good taste with respect for the environment (no harming of wildlife).
- Images must be taken underwater (either fully or at least partially submerged) with a digital or film camera.
- Images with watermarks cannot be judged. Remember that judging is blind so if you want us to use a watermarked picture on the website, please send us two versions, one without a watermark for judging!
- You must own the copyright and must have taken the image you submit.
- No AI images.
- You may edit or enhance your images with a view to improving their quality while maintaining a natural appeal; any manipulation should be noted in your comments.
- Uploaded photos should be of highest possible quality. For winning images we may request a higher quality version for print.
- If you have any queries or need to alter an entry, email sophie@seatech.co.nz
- You can upload a maximum of three photos per contest; there is no entry fee.
- Please complete your contact details accurately so we may contact you if you win.
- Permission to publish your entry in Dive New Zealand/Dive Pacific magazines both print and digital as well as on the Dive New Zealand and the Sea Tech websites in relation to the competition is assumed but no entry will be sold or used for purposes outside of the competition and its promotion without the express permission of the entrant.
- Images submitted can be used without notification and free of any charges when used for promotional purposes by Sea Tech Ltd.
- Images submitted can be used without notification and free of any charges within the magazine for educational/photographic tutorials on enhancing an image.
- Previous issue's winning images are available for viewing online.
- You have to be in to win; the competition and prizes will not grow if you don’t participate and best of all, it’s free, so have fun and good luck!
Information & where to send it
Please can you email a large hi-res copy of your photo to: sophie@seatech.co.nz
(If your file is too large, try a Dropbox link, Google Drive or WeTransfer.)
Entry Name: your name
Country / State: where you're from, not the photo
Email Address:
Your URL: website or insta
Image Name:
Image Location:
Equipment Used: **camera make and model**, lighting, housing etc
Image Details: f-stop, shutter speed, ISO etc
Any extra details you want to share!
Limit: 3 entries per photographer
