REAL FOCUS follows a two-stage submission and anonymous judging process designed to protect image authenticity, fairness and the integrity of the competition.
Submission Process
1. Before Departure
Participants must submit the original unedited source files for their proposed entries, including RAW files where available, together with the required dive data.
All images must have been captured during the participant’s qualifying stay at Solitude Acacia Resort or Solitude Lembeh Resort.
2. Final Image Submission
Final edited versions of eligible source images must be uploaded through the official REAL FOCUS Submission Page by 31 May 2027. Each final image must correspond to a source file submitted before departure. Only final edited images will proceed to judging.
Eligibility and Verification
Before judging begins, entries will be checked for eligibility, completeness, file requirements, accompanying dive data and compliance with the competition’s ethical and image-authorship rules.
The organisers may review source files, dive data and other relevant information where verification is required.
Anonymous Judging
Eligible images will be presented to the judging panel without the photographer’s name or other identifying participant information.
Images may progress through several rounds, with the field narrowing until the category results and Best of Show are determined. Best of Show is selected from eligible entries across all four categories and is not entered separately.
Evaluation Criteria
Images will be assessed for:
- Ethical integrity and authentic image-making
- Creativity and originality
- Technical execution
- Composition
- Visual impact
- Storytelling
Dive data does not influence artistic scoring, but it must be complete and accurate for an entry to remain eligible.
Final Decisions
Each image will be considered independently on its own merit. The judging panel’s final decisions regarding results are final.