2020 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results

Thank you to all the photographers who shared their view of national marine sanctuaries with us! Click each photograph to see the full version.

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible activities in the National Marine Sanctuary System, as long as the photographer is credited. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.

Sanctuaries at Home

While it’s important to get outside, experience nature, and recreate responsibly, we know that many of us are spending more time at home this year. Show us how you’re staying in touch with your national marine sanctuary through art, stewardship activities from your home or neighborhood, and responsible water-based recreation in your local communities.

sea turtle chalk drawing
1st Place: Jill Brown. Sea turtles and tropical fish inspired by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary make a big splash as delightful works of sidewalk art.
two people laying down with ray paintings laughing
2nd Place: Tiffany Duong. Bringing Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary indoors during the pandemic with paintings of spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari).
Large rock formation on a beach with people around it
3rd Place: Kristine Ellefson. Adventure seekers recreate responsibly at Salt Creek Recreation Area in Port Angeles, located roughly 50 miles from Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

All submitted photos

Heron and egret by power plant
A blue heron (Ardea herodias) and Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) fish at sunset in the Salinas River estuary, Salinas River State Beach. Photo: Meg McWhinney
Bird standing on one leg
American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) taken in an estuary in Central California with a Sony 6300 and a 100 to 400 lens. Photo: Jerry Loomis
View of someones feet over the ocean
“Blue” Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Osprey over skyscrapers
A peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus,) lands on a balcony near Cambridge, MA. Photo: Peter Sugrue
Osprey over skyscrapers
A peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus,) lands on a balcony near Cambridge, MA. Photo: Peter Sugrue
Osprey over skyscrapers
A peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus,) lands on a balcony near Cambridge, MA. Photo: Peter Sugrue
Coral Fan in front of ocean
“Through a Fan” Coral Bay, St. John USVI Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Person holding up a lionfish over cat
“My cat, Mr. WhistlePig, sniffs a juvenile invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) I harvested out of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Rachel Lynn Bowman
Person holding up a lionfish over cat
“My cat, Mr. WhistlePig, sniffs a lionfish (Pterois miles) I harvested out of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Rachel Lynn Bowma
Dog on a beach at sunset
“The Dog” Grand Turk, Caribbean Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Dog on a beach at sunset
“The Other Dog” Grand Turk, Caribbean Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Bird flying over ocean at sunset
"I grew up in Cambridge moved to Hull. I love to see the beauty of nature in both worlds." Photo: Peter Sugrue
Rocky beach at sunset
"I grew up in Cambridge moved to Hull. I love to see the beauty of nature in both worlds." Photo: Peter Sugrue
Barnacles on a rock
“My Favorite Rock” Hull Bay, Massachusetts Photo: Lisa Sugrue
halloween sky over water
“Halloween Sky” Hull Bay, Massachusetts Photo: Lisa Sugrue
sunset over water
“Kaisers Sunset” Hull Bay, Massachusetts Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Sunset with dog
“Sunset with Kaiser” Hull Bay, Massachusetts Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Kayaks at sunset
“Kayaks at Dusk” Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Kelp near surface from below
Drifting kelp, Matlahuayl SMR, La Jolla, CA Photo: Lindsay Bauman
Kelp near surface from below
Drifting kelp, Matlahuayl SMR, La Jolla, CA Photo: Lindsay Bauman
Looking through a collapsing wave
Playing in the waves at Matlahuayl SMR in La Jolla, CA Photo: Lindsay Bauman
Reddish egret
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) dance Loreto Baja, Mexico Photo: Jerry Loomis
Reddish egret
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) Loreto Baja, Mexico estuary in town Photo: Jerry Loomis
Pier
“Skeleton” Oak Bluffs Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts Photo: Lisa Sugrue
Boat on a river
It was sun rising time and there was rain, this boat was going to it's destination this photo is showing beauty of nature. Golachipa, Patuakhali, Bangladesh Photo: Md. Jahin khandakar
Boat on a lake from shore
An evening on the pond. Fryeburg, ME Photo: Robin Micu
Sailboat on a lake
Sailing in Maine. Fryeburg, ME Photo: Robin Micu
Beach
Nahant Beach Reservation in Massachusetts, Early Morning Photo: Robin Micu
sunset over ocean
Key West Sunset Photo: Robin Micu
Person on beach with dog
Waiting for Bioluminescence - San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area Photo: Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Sunset panorama of a beach
Sunset Walk to the Tidepools - San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area Photo: Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Sunset over lake with boat
This picture is of our 2020 Regency Tri-toon boat resting easily on the beautiful banks of Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana on a serene summer evening. Photo: Cori Watson

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible recreation in the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.