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National Estuaries Week – Photo Contest 2025

Congratulations to the 2025 National Estuaries Week photo contest winners. A panel of judges anonymously selected the winning photos from 160 submissions. Thank you to all the photographers who participated.

Learn

A Portuguese man o’ war with a translucent, balloon-like float tinged in purple and blue lies on a sandy beach.
Jillian Daly, North Carolina Reserve, North Carolina

A close-up of a large spider with long, spindly legs hanging upside down on delicate strands of silk.
Leandro Ponce, Sapelo Island Reserve, Georgia

Play

A man in chest waders and a bright orange hat laughs while sitting in a plastic bin in a river as a woman playfully reaches toward him.
Chris Bowser, Hudson River Reserve, New York

A person in a yellow kayak paddles along a calm waterway at sunset.
Justin Ridge, North Carolina Reserve, North Carolina

Smiles

A person in a wetsuit, snorkel, and mask smiles while standing waist-deep in the water.
Erin Shields, Chesapeake Bay Reserve, Virginia

A young boy smiles while holding a horseshoe crab with both hands.
Melissa Brogle, Great Bay Reserve, New Hampshire

Vista

Dark storm clouds roll over a coastal marsh at sunset.
Kathy Hicks, Weeks Bay Reserve, Alabama

A leafless driftwood tree stands on a sandy beach at dusk.
Leandro Ponce, Sapelo Island Reserve, Georgia

A translucent jellyfish lies on wet sand under a dramatic sky filled with dark, textured clouds.
Justin Ridge, North Carolina Reserve, North Carolina

Work

A person carries field gear, including a large blue bag and a square sampling frame, while walking through a wide green meadow.
Spencer Johnson, Kachemak Bay Reserve, Alaska

Four people wearing waders walk through a shallow stream in a wide valley surrounded by tall grass, forested slopes, and steep mountains.
Spencer Johnson, Kachemak Bay Reserve, Alaska

Honorable Mentions

A close-up macro shot of a dragonfly perched on a green leaf.
Kathy Hicks, Weeks Bay Reserve, Alabama

A person holds up a clear plastic container with a colorful fish inside, displaying it in front of their face.
Chris Bowser, Hudson River Reserve, New York

A brown duck dips its head into the water while a taller black-and-white shorebird with long legs and a slender upturned bill stands just behind it.
Karen Suhrhoff, Wells Reserve, Maine

A snowy egret with bright yellow feet perches on a mossy log in calm water.
Karen Suhrhoff, Wells Reserve, Maine

Four people walk together along a wide, empty beach, leaving footprints in the sand behind them.
Claire Garfield, Sapelo Island Reserve, Georgia

Two boys stand in shallow water near rocks, smiling and making hand signs toward the camera.
Melissa Brogle, Great Bay Reserve, New Hampshire

A person in waders and a bright neon yellow shirt smiles while holding a small crab between their fingers.
Kaitlyn Dirr, ACE Basin Reserve, South Carolina

A great blue heron with its feathers fluffed and ruffled stands near the water.
Kathy Hicks, Weeks Bay Reserve, Alabama

A smiling woman in a red floral hat, reflective sunglasses, and a life vest holds a clear container with a small starfish inside.
Marissa Figueroa, Rookery Bay Reserve, Florida

A smiling person wearing waders and a maroon cap stands in shallow water near rocks, holding a net on a wooden pole.
Chris Bowser, Hudson River Reserve, New York

A smiling woman holds a clear plastic bag of water and small fish above her head while a group of adults and a child gather around, laughing and pointing at the bag.
Chris Bowser, Hudson River Reserve, New York

A smiling woman wearing sunglasses, a gray cap, and a light blue shirt holds a tiny crab in her hands while standing on the beach.
Justin Ridge, North Carolina Reserve, North Carolina

A black swallowtail butterfly with orange, yellow, and blue markings clings to a purple wildflower.
Kathy Hicks, Weeks Bay Reserve, Alabama

A vivid sunset paints the sky in deep shades of orange, purple, and pink over a beach.
Leandro Ponce, Sapelo Island Reserve, Georgia

A person in field gear walks through a wide marsh carrying a white square sampling frame on their back.
Spencer Johnson, Kachemak Bay Reserve, Alaska

Close-up of hands with teal-painted nails gently holding several tiny, translucent eels above a white bucket of water.
Chris Bowser, Hudson River Reserve, New York

A line of oyster reef structures extends into the water, built from stacked concrete blocks with a marker pole on top. To the left, three people in field gear stand knee-deep in the water, working near the reef under a bright blue sky.
Justin Ridge, North Carolina Reserve, North Carolina