Rules & Conditions

• 1.1. Purpose:
  The REAL FOCUS Underwater Photography Shootout, a partnership between Solitude World and Makrogehtimmer, celebrates creative and ethically responsible underwater photography rooted in authentic image-making and respect for marine life.
• 1.2. Locations and Competition Period:
  The competition takes place at Solitude Acacia Resort in Anilao, Philippines, and Solitude Lembeh Resort in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia, from 15 February to 30 April 2027. Participants must complete a minimum stay of three consecutive nights, and all entries must be captured during their qualifying stay.
• 1.3. Image Submission:
  Original unedited source files, including RAW files where available, and the accompanying dive data must be submitted before departure. Final edited versions of the same images must be uploaded through the official REAL FOCUS Submission Page by 31 May 2027. Only the final edited versions will be judged.
• 1.4. Ethical Compliance:
  All entries must comply with the competition’s ethical, environmental and image-authorship requirements. Breaches will be addressed in accordance with these rules.
• 1.5. Marine Species Observation Study:
  • Each entry must include a completed dive data sheet supporting the ongoing three-year marine species observation study led by marine biologist Dr David Harasti.
  • The study combines images, dive data and participant-recorded observations to explore patterns that may emerge in species presence, abundance, habitat use, environmental conditions and observed behaviour over time.

• 2.1. Eligibility:
  • To qualify, participants must be registered guests at either Solitude Acacia Resort (Anilao, Philippines) or Solitude Lembeh Resort (Lembeh Strait, Indonesia) for a minimum of three (3) consecutive nights during the official competition period: 15 February to 30 April 2027.
  • All submitted images must be captured during the participant’s qualifying stay.
• 2.2. Exclusions:
  • Employees of Solitude World, Solitude Resorts, Solitude Liveaboards, Makrogehtimmer, and individuals directly involved in the organisation, management, or judging of the competition—including their immediate family members—are not eligible to participate.
  • Immediate family members of these individuals are also not eligible to participate.
• 2.3 Entry Category Eligibility:
  Macro Traditional, Macro Creative and Blackwater are open to all eligible participants, regardless of previous competition experience, publication history or camera system. These are open entry categories and are not Advanced or Pro divisions.
• 2.4 Newcomer Eligibility:
  • Newcomer is an open-theme category for eligible photographers using any camera system.
  • To qualify for Newcomer, an entrant must not have previously won or placed in a recognised international photography competition or had an underwater image selected for editorial publication by an established print or digital media outlet.
  • Personal social media posts, online shares or reposts, and informal local or club recognition do not disqualify an entrant from Newcomer.
  • Photographers who qualify for Newcomer may also enter Macro Traditional, Macro Creative and Blackwater, subject to the applicable submission limits. The same image cannot be entered in more than one category.
• 2.5 3SIXTY Account and Participation Benefit:
  • Participants must have or create a valid 3SIXTY account using accurate personal information. This account will be used to submit final edited images and administer the participant benefit.
  • Following confirmation of eligibility and entry, every participant will receive access to the 3SIXTY World tier for twelve months from the date of activation.
  • The 3SIXTY World upgrade is a participant benefit and does not form part of the competition prize pool. It is personal, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
  • Benefits apply to eligible direct bookings and are subject to availability and the current 3SIXTY programme terms. They cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions unless expressly stated.

• 3.1. Respect for Marine Life:
  Marine life must be photographed in its natural environment with minimal disturbance. The welfare of the subject and habitat always takes priority over obtaining an image.
• 3.2. No Physical Interaction:
  Touching, moving, handling, restraining or repositioning marine life is prohibited. Participants must not use hands, pointers or equipment to manipulate a subject.
• 3.3. Natural Behaviour and Habitat:
  Chasing, baiting, feeding, harassing or influencing marine life is prohibited. The surrounding habitat must not be moved, damaged or rearranged for a photograph.
• 3.4 Buoyancy Control:
  Participants must maintain appropriate buoyancy and equipment control to avoid contact with or damage to marine life and habitats.

• 4.1. Permitted Assistance:
  Dive guides may assist with diver safety, navigation, and locating or identifying marine life.
• 4.2. Image Authorship:
  Guides must not position subjects, alter the surroundings, hold or aim lights or snoots, direct compositions or otherwise construct an image. The photographer must control the camera, lighting, buoyancy, composition, timing and approach, and must not request or accept prohibited assistance.

• 5.1. Leave No Trace:
  Participants must leave the dive environment as found. Damaging habitats, displacing organisms, breaking coral, or leaving waste or equipment behind is prohibited.

• 6.1. Image Creation:
  Each entry must be photographed by the entrant during their qualifying stay. The entrant must personally operate the camera and control the photographic process.
• 6.2. Submission Limits:
  Participants may submit up to five final images per entry category. Each image must be unique and accompanied by its corresponding unedited source file.
• 6.3. Source and Final Image Submission:
  Final edited versions of eligible source images must be uploaded through the official REAL FOCUS Submission Page by 31 May 2027. Only these final edited versions will be judged.
• 6.4. Submission Changes:
  Final edited images may be replaced until 31 May 2027, provided each replacement corresponds to a source file submitted before departure. No changes may be made after the deadline.
• 6.5. Dive Data:
  Each entry must include a corresponding dive data sheet recording details such as the dive site, depth, water temperature, observed species, abundance and behaviour. This information supports the ongoing three-year marine species observation study.

• 7.1. Ethical Compliance:
  All entries must comply with the ethical, environmental and image-authorship requirements in these rules.
• 7.2. Permitted Editing:
  Permitted editing includes reasonable cropping, global colour and exposure adjustments, white balance, contrast, noise reduction, sharpening, and limited sensor-spot or backscatter removal.
• 7.3. Prohibited Editing:
  Generative AI, content-aware fill, composites, post-processing focus stacking or exposure blending, and adding, removing, moving or replacing image elements are prohibited. Editing must not alter the subject, environment or context of the original scene.
• 7.4. Macro Creative Techniques:
  In-camera double or multiple exposures are permitted only in Macro Creative. They must be created underwater during the qualifying stay, and all corresponding unedited source files must be submitted.
• 7.5. Authenticity and Completeness:
  An entry will be ineligible if the participant does not meet the applicable eligibility requirements, uses plagiarised or unauthorised content, provides false or misleading information, or fails to provide the required source files or dive data.
• 7.6. Disqualification:
  A serious ethical violation may disqualify all images taken on the day of the violation. Technical or submission breaches will normally affect only the relevant entry. Repeated or deliberate violations may result in removal from the competition.

• 8.1. The Rangers
  Designated Rangers, who may include dive guides, resort team members or competition representatives, may monitor participant conduct and compliance with these rules.
• 8.2. Reporting Violations
  Rangers and participants may report suspected violations promptly and in good faith. The organisers will review the available information and determine whether further action is required.

• 9.1. Eligibility Review:
  Only final images meeting all eligibility, submission, ethical and technical requirements will proceed to judging.
• 9.2. Judging Criteria:
  Eligible images will be assessed for originality, technical execution, composition, visual impact, storytelling and authentic image-making.
• 9.3. Dive Data:
  Dive data does not affect artistic scoring but must be complete and accurate for an entry to remain eligible.
• 9.4. Best of Show:
  Best of Show will be selected from all eligible entries across the four categories. No separate entry is required.

• 10.1. Required Files:
  Each entry must include the final edited JPEG and a matching unedited JPEG created from the original source file submitted before departure. Original RAW files must be supplied where the camera produces them. In-camera double or multiple exposures require all corresponding source files.
• 10.2. File Specifications:
  All submitted JPEGs, both edited and unedited, must be a minimum of 2700 pixels on the shortest side, with a file size between 2 MB and 5 MB.
• 10.3. Caption:
  Each entry must include a caption of no more than 25 words identifying the location and explaining the context of the image.

• 11.1. Verification:
  The organisers may review original RAW files, source images, dive data or other relevant information to verify compliance with these rules.
• 11.2. Enforcement:
  Entries or participants found to have breached these rules may be disqualified. Any action taken will reflect the nature and severity of the violation.

• REAL FOCUS promotes ethical underwater photography, responsible diving and a deeper understanding of the marine environment through its competition guidance and educational content.

• 13.1. Prize Pool:
  Confirmed prizes and sponsor details will be published and maintained on the official REAL FOCUS Prizes page.
• 13.2. Awards:
  Prizes will be awarded across the published entry categories. Best of Show is an overall award selected from eligible entries across all four categories and is not a separate entry category.
• 13.3. Prize Allocation:
  Winners and prize allocations will be determined by the judging panel. All decisions are final.
• 13.4. Prize Substitution:
  If a prize becomes unavailable, the organisers or prize sponsor may provide a substitute of equal or greater value.
• 13.5. Prize Conditions:
  Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash unless expressly stated. Winners are responsible for any taxes, duties, delivery, travel or other costs not specifically included with the prize.
• 13.6. Winner Notification:
  If a winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the official prize notification, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to another eligible entrant at the organisers’ discretion.
• 13.7. 3SIXTY Participant Benefit:
  The 3SIXTY participant benefit is separate from the competition prizes and does not depend on winning. Benefits are valid for twelve months and are subject to availability, eligibility requirements and the applicable 3SIXTY programme terms.

Macro Traditional, Macro Creative and Blackwater are open to all eligible participants. They are not Advanced or Pro divisions.

• 14.1. Macro Traditional:
  Macro images presenting marine life naturally, with emphasis on detail, behaviour, habitat and authentic representation.
• 14.2. Macro Creative:
  Macro images created through original composition, lighting, optics or permitted in-camera techniques. Creativity must occur underwater at the time of capture.
• 14.3. Blackwater:
  Images captured during night dives in open water, featuring pelagic, larval or other blackwater subjects.
• 14.4. Newcomer:
  An open-theme category for eligible newcomers using any camera system. Entrants must meet the requirements stated in Section 2.4.
• 14.5. Best of Show:
  Best of Show is an overall award, not an entry category. It is selected by the judging panel from all eligible entries across the four categories.

• 15.1. Copyright
  Participants retain copyright in their submitted images.
• 15.2. Permission to Use
  • By entering, participants grant REAL FOCUS, Solitude World, Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts, Makrogehtimmer and confirmed competition sponsors a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to reproduce, publish and display their final submitted images for purposes connected with REAL FOCUS.
  • Images may be resized, cropped, reformatted for different aspect ratios, masked, overlaid or incorporated into graphic designs, campaign artwork, websites, social media, printed materials, presentations and press materials. These adaptations must not misrepresent the image, its subject or the photographer’s work.
  • Image credit will be provided where reasonably practical. For composite designs, credit may appear in the accompanying caption, credits or linked webpage rather than within the artwork itself.
• 15.3. Other Commercial Use
  Any use unrelated to REAL FOCUS or its promotion will require separate permission from the photographer.