OCUPS MONTHLY PHOTO CONTEST 2025 CONTEST THEMES

1. Wrasses - The wrassesare a family, Labridae, of marine fish that swim primarily with their pectoral fins and are generally very colorful.  Other features include thick lips, smooth scales, long dorsal and anal fins, and large, often protruding canine teeth in the front of the jaw. Ex. Sheephead,  Cleaner wrasse 
    
2. Cute face - Any marine animal with "cute" or "adorable" facial features.
   
   
3. Contrasting colors - Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Warm and cool colors contrast with each other, (red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple) are complementary colors.
   
   
4. Animals that create their own habitat - EX, Jawfish, Gobies with their shrimp, Sleeping Parrot Fish, tube dwelling anemones.
   
   
5. Parasite or commensal symbionts on their host; Symbionts that have either a negative effect on their host (parasite) or where only the symbiont gets a positive affect and the host is not affected (communalism).
   
   
6. Human Interaction: "Any image that shows human use or impact in the ocean positive or negative, such as ghost nets, coral planting, reef damage, tagged animals, divers or swimmers.
   
   
7. Brooding or protecting young – Taking care of eggs or young
   
   
8. "Beautiful Reefs" which would include rocky reefs, coral reef, and artificial reefs.
   
   
9. Backlighting - Positioning the main light source for a picture behind the primary subject
   
   
10. High key - Images characterized by an abundance of light tones, lack of most shadows, and minimized contrast. They are often set against over-exposed backdrops . TBD video theme
    
    
11. Mammals underwater – Wild marine mammals taken in their natural environment, no aquarium, or captive settings.