Ocean Art 2026 Underwater Photo Competition

AI policy

AI masking, sharpening, and denoise tools are permitted. Generative AI software that produces artifacts or visual elements that did not exist in the original photograph is not permitted.

RAW files

Original RAW files straight from the camera, along with a high-resolution JPEG, will be requested from finalists for auditing. An entry may be disqualified if an original RAW or original JPEG cannot be provided.

Editing rules

All photos must be taken in a natural water environment such as an ocean or lake, with the photographer in the water; pools, aquariums and controlled environments are only allowed in the Underwater Digital Art and Underwater Fashion categories, which also have no post-processing limits. Subjects must be alive and in their natural environment; harassment of marine life may lead to disqualification. Non-generative AI sharpening, denoise and masking are allowed, while composites, HDR, focus stacking, cloning and generative AI additions are not. Finalists are audited against the original RAW and a high-resolution JPEG from mid-December 2026, before the second judging round. Content Credentials are not mentioned.