Calling all photographers! The annual Coastal Photography Contest will be opening soon. Every August, SCDES’s Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM) sponsors the Coastal Photography Contest, with the winning image featured on the following year’s Tide Tables.
Photographers of all degrees of expertise are invited to participate in the contest.
We reached out to last year’s winner, Lorraine Holcombe, to learn more about her experience in the contest.
2026 Coastal Photography Contest winner Lorraine Holcombe (left) signing copies of the Tide Tables with BCM staff.
Lorraine Holcombe enjoys photographing wildlife and the natural beauty of South Carolina’s coast and has 6 years of experience focusing specifically on wildlife photography. She especially loves capturing shorebirds and the quiet moments that make coastal habitats so special. She hopes her photographs encourage others to appreciate and care for these unique places.
“As someone who enjoys photographing shorebirds and other coastal wildlife, the contest was a perfect opportunity to share a moment that reflects what makes South Carolina’s beaches so special,” Lorraine shared when asked what drew her to the Coastal Photography Contest. “I hope my photographs inspire others to appreciate these habitats and the importance of conserving them for future generations.”
The Coastal Photography Contest is a celebration of the unique beauty of the South Carolina coast. Whether its sandy beaches, grassy marshes, tidal waters, or the diverse wildlife that calls our coast home, photos submitted to the contest should prominently feature scenes of South Carolina’s coastal natural resources.
“My favorite part of South Carolina’s coast is its incredible wildlife,” Lorraine shared. “I love that you can walk the beach and never know what you’ll see—from shorebirds feeding along the tide line to dolphins offshore or a beautiful sunrise over the ocean. Every visit offers something different, and that’s what keeps me coming back with my camera.”
Her photo, “Jumping for Joy!”, won last year’s photo contest, and was taken at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. The image features a quartet of American Oystercatchers enjoying a moment on the beach.
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The 2026 Coastal Photography Contest Winner, “Jumping for Joy!” by Lorraine Holcombe.
“Oystercatchers have always been one of my favorite shorebirds to photograph because they’re full of personality,” Lorraine explained. “When I saw one leaping into the air, I knew it was a special moment. I hoped the image would capture not only their energy but also the beauty of the coastal habitats they depend on.”
When asked what advice she would give folks who might be interested in the contest, Lorraine encouraged time spent slowing down and observing one’s coastal surroundings.
“Just get out and enjoy the coast,” she said. “The best photographs often come from being patient and letting nature surprise you.”
