Blue Hope photography competition
Showcasing Victoria's coast. Protecting our blue future.
Photograph Victoria's marine life and coastal landscapes
From life beneath the waves to the landscapes along our shores, Victoria's coastline offers plenty to explore through photography.
Hosted by the Deakin Centre for Marine Science, Blue Hope invites Victorian school students and amateur adult photographers to celebrate the beauty, diversity and changing nature of our coastline. The competition encourages us to see our marine environments in new ways.
How the competition works
Submit your best photograph of Victoria's coastal or underwater environments for the chance to win prizes and have your work showcased at the Blue Hope photography exhibition.
Entries will be judged by a panel of experienced photographers and marine scientists based on:
- impact
- creativity and originality
- composition
- technical quality
- storytelling and connection to place.
Judging will take place in February 2027, with nine winning photographs selected across three competition categories. Winners will be contacted that month.
Competition prizes
Primary school (ages 5–12)
- First prize: Phillip Island Penguins Plus Family Experience (valued at $232.50)
- Second prize: $100 Rip Curl wetsuit voucher
- Third prize: Tahwalhi Junior Snorkel and Flippers (valued at $50)
Secondary school (ages 13–17)
- First prize: Surf Groms group surf lesson (valued at $200)
- Second prize: $100 Rip Curl wetsuit voucher
- Third prize: Tahwalhi Junior Snorkel and Flippers (valued at $50)
Open category (ages 18+)
- First prize: Five-night stay at Tidal River Cabins in Wilsons Promontory for up to six guests (valued at $1000)
- Second prize: Family Seal & Dolphin Swim pass for two adults and two children (valued at $720)
- Third prize: $300 Need Essentials voucher
Winning photographs will also be professionally printed on canvas and displayed at the Blue Hope exhibition. Winners can collect their prints after the exhibition.
Eligibility
Entry is free. To be eligible, you must:
- be an amateur photographer who has never earned income from photography
- submit your own original photograph taken along the Victorian coastline, featuring a coastal or underwater environment
- take your photograph during the official capture period
- hold the rights to your photograph and have permission from any identifiable people featured.
By entering, you agree that your photograph may be used for judging, exhibition and non-commercial promotion of the competition and event.
Discover the Blue Hope photography exhibition
See Victoria's coastline through the eyes of local photographers. Join us for the free exhibition opening at Deakin's Geelong Waterfront Campus to celebrate the winning photographs and hear from marine scientists and guest judges.
How to enter the competition
Ready to share your photograph of Victoria's coast? Entries open on 1 November 2026 and close on 31 January 2027.
Before submitting, make sure your photograph meets these requirements:
- Capture period: 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027
- File format: JPG
- Image dimensions: 2400 pixels on the longest side
- Maximum file size: 2 MB
You can submit one photograph per person.
Frequently asked questions
No. All photographs must be taken during the official capture period, which starts on 1 November 2026.
Winners will be contacted in February 2027 and announced at the Blue Hope photography exhibition opening in March 2027.
Yes. All competition entries will be showcased digitally at the Blue Hope photography exhibition, while the nine winning photographs will be professionally printed on canvas. A copy of each winning photograph will also be displayed at the Deakin Centre for Marine Science in Queenscliff.
Winners must be able to collect their prize from one of these Deakin campuses:
- Warrnambool Campus: Princes Highway, Warrnambool
- Melbourne Burwood Campus: 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood
- Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus: 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds.
Share your view of Victoria's coast
Enter the Blue Hope photography competition for the chance to win a prize and have your work showcased at the exhibition. Entries close 31 January 2027.
