SCDES Seeking Submissions for Annual Coastal Photography Contest

Photographers of all levels encouraged to send favorite photos of SC coast 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Aug. 1, 2025 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services's (SCDES) Bureau of Coastal Management is currently accepting submissions for its annual Coastal Photography Contest. Photographers of all levels are encouraged to enter their photographs of the South Carolina coast for a chance to be featured on SCDES’s 2026 Tide Tables Poster.  

“Our annual Tide Table posters are consistently one of the most popular public resources we develop, and the Coastal Photography Contest is always a fun time of year,” said Chris Stout, Chief of the Bureau of Coastal Management. “We always look forward to seeing the photographs of South Carolina’s beautiful coast and beaches that are shared with us.” 

Last year’s winner was "An Evening in the Boneyard" by Raymond Murray, featuring a photo of Hunting Island in Beaufort. The 2025 Tide Table and previous years’ photo contest winners are available at des.sc.gov/coastalphoto. 

Eligible photographs should feature coastal South Carolina scenes including marshes, beaches, or wildlife. Photos must be the original work of the photographer, must be in landscape orientation, and individual photos should not exceed a file size of 65 megabytes. Participants may submit up to three digital photos by the deadline of Aug. 31, 2025.

The winning photo will be featured on SCDES’s 2026 Tide Table Poster, will be shared on the SCDES website, and will be featured on the agency’s social media accounts.  

Entries must be submitted online. Visit des.sc.gov/coastalphoto for the rules, submission form, and additional information.   

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