Behind the Lens of the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest

August 19, 2026

Shannon Shikles and Rachel Plunkett of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with Gabriel Jensen and Luan Roberts, award-winning photographers from the 2025 Get into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest

In celebration of World Photography Day, join award-winning photographers from the 2025 photo contest as they share the stories, techniques, and inspiration behind their images and reveal how patience, planning, and awareness of light, tides, wildlife behavior, and place help them capture powerful images responsibly. From marine life and intertidal landscapes to stunning macro photography, get inspired for the 2026 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest.