People’s Choice – Coast Guard Photo Contest

Monday, January 17, 2011

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

2010 Photo Contest

The pictures for this year’s Photo Contest are in and the results are impressive! Throughout 2010, Coast Guard men and women from around the world captured remarkable photographs of maritime security missions, joint interagency operations, international exercises, and routine training evolutions to take you behind the scenes of life in the U.S. Coast Guard.

With more than 600 images submitted for this year’s contest and only four chosen as overall winners, many of these pictures will not get the recognition they deserve. So, while the “official” judges spend the next couple of months huddled over light boxes and pondering pixels, we’re asking you to help us determine the “People’s Choice.”

We have selected 40 of the best photos submitted to share with you. Every Monday over the next eight weeks, we will post a set of five pictures.

To make your vote count on this blog, just click on the picture(s) you like and post a positive comment.  You can also click on the link to the image in the Flickr photo set and leave your comment there. It’s your choice… your “People’s Choice.”

Below is the first set of photos for your consideration…

Click here to see this picture in Flickr.

Furling the Eagle

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle work to take in the sails as the ship heads to Corpus Christi, Texas, July 2, 2010. Crewmen work in the rigging nearly 100 feet above the water. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

Click here to see this picture in Flickr.

Hovering bird

HUMBOLDT BAY, Calif. - An MH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Humboldt Bay hovers during high seas surf training. Crews from Group Humboldt Bay were underway for the filming of a Military Channel program – Dangerous Jobs – featuring Coast Guard rescue swimmers. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Todd Vorenkamp.

Click here to see this picture in Flickr.

Vessel boarding

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Members of Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103, located in San Pedro, Calif., board and clear a vessel off the coast of Long Beach as part of an exercise to hone the team's tactical skills March 13, 2010. The week-long training, administered by the Mobile Training Team, is completed quarterly. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory J. Mendenhall.

Click here to see this picture in Flickr.

Waiting for a ride

AFGHANISTAN – Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin J. Kiger, a storekeeper, surveys the landing zone as a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter lands to transport his team. Kiger, a reservist, is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance & Inspection Detachment (RAID) team. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. James Cullen.

Click here to see this picture in Flickr.

Coast Guard divers

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Bjornberg and Petty Officer 2nd Class Adonis Kazouris, maritime enforcement specialists at the Regional Dive Locker East in Portsmouth, Va., prepare for a training dive. Moments later, the divers took a 10-foot jump off the pier into the water. U.S. Coast Guard photo illustration by Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Foucha.

Tune in next Monday for the second set!

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  • concerned

    There are some great photos here, until you get to the last one. Coast Guard photographers are restricted from using photoshop on their photos, why does this one look like it has been sharpened and manipulated? Even my daughter says that it does not look like a photo. Don’t get me wrong, Coast Guard PA’s are aloud to use photoshop, however this image should now be labeled as a photo illustration as it no longer is the original document taken by the photographer. There are plenty of great shots out there that have not been manipulated that deserve a chance at being recognized. Vote for a “PHOTO” and not an illustration. Frankly this type of disregard or CG policy is why there are still photographers out there that think that photoshop manipulation is ok. Great job everyone else for taking some great photos.

  • Rafael Vasquez Junior

    Keep sending those nice :USA Coast Guard..You guys are guys and girls are doing a wonderful job..

  • LT Connie Braesch

    Concerned, thank you for your comment. You are correct that Coast Guard imagery shall not be manipulated beyond cropping to fit a frame or layout or minor color correction. While the photo contest announcement does not expressly outline editing parameters, Coast Guard photographers should disclose whether the image was edited.

    After consulting with the amateur photographer (the member is a boatswain’s mate 1st class and not a public affairs specialist), he did use photo editing software to correct color and adjust the highlights and shadows. Therefore, I re-captioned the image as an “illustration” instead of a “photo.”

    To clarify in future photo contests or other Coast Guard multimedia contests, we will include guidance and references on the ethical standards for editing Coast Guard visual imagery.

    Regards,
    Lt. Connie Braesch
    U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs

  • MCPO

    I am not shocked to see an EAGLE photo in the mix. Afterall, it’s the officer’s officer Coast Guard and the enlisted workforce just play in it. Also concure the last image is a horrible selection.

  • Michael Robinson

    As the father of two young coasties, one a graduating ME and the other a non-rate working on an 87 footer in the West. I love that I ran into this site and get the opportunity to see these photos and read the blogs on your site. Having retired from the US Army after 26 years of service, I appreciate and respect the hardships and sacrafice that all of our service men and woman endure in bringing safety and security to this great nation. Keep up the good work folks!

  • Amy E.

    MCPO- as a crewmember of EAGLE I would have to respectfully disagree with your comment. We (the Crew of EAGLE) do not play on the “officers” Cutter. In fact, we make this cutter what it is. 365 days a year we are working, sweating and bleeding for this beautiful piece of history. I believe that the Coast Guard as a whole has a common misconception about what EAGLE’s crew does. We are instructors, we are mentors, and we are the beating heart of this Cutter. This is not a joy ride, this is not a vacation. We both learn and teach each other and in turn bring that skill and specialty knowledge to the future officer corps. We are the future of our great service.

  • E. Chevy

    What’s awesome about photographs is that many people are beginning to understand that it is an artistic expression. Now, whether a person chooses to enhance an image or not doesn’t negate the fact that its still art, an interpretation of a photo. All these photos are amazing! I’m a helo man so I love the dolphin picture hands down! I’ve taken many pictures myself and wish I would have learned when the cut off date was to send in pictures so that I could have. But the whole point about a photo is that its a snap shot and has become more and more of an art than a science and shouldn’t have rules or boundaries. Just my respectful thoughts.

  • P. RICH

    A SIMPLE GOOD WORK OR BZ WOULD SUFFICE. EVERYBODIES A CRITIC AND THEY ALL GOTTA GET THEIR JOKES IN. AWESOME JOB TO ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND HAVE A COAST GUARD DAY

  • Dekos911

    Great pictures Just recently a very proud father of a new Coastie he is on the Alex Haley I would like to see pictures of his ship? Thanks

  • LTJG S. M. Young

    Dekos911,Congratulations on your son joining the United States Coast Guard! You can find some great images of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley in the Coast Guard Visual Information gallery. Some examples are here, here and here.Very Respectfully,LTJG S. M. YoungCoast Guard Public Affairs

  • Dekos911

    Thanks I got them, just wanted to let anyone that have new (present) pictures of my son and the Alex Haley, it would be appreciated. And YES I am a very proud father of my son and all of the men and women of the Coast Guard. Having been in Law Enforcement for over 30 years, it is a job that no one wants, but everyone needs. Wishing the Alex Haley and all Law Enforcement all the best.

  • Brian

    I have to agree, Amy. While the CG officer corps IS important, it is the enlisted personnel that MAKE the Coast Guard. Officers give the Coast Guard direction, while the enlisted give the Coast Guard the horsepower to do the job. I’m not really sure what MCPO meant by “it’s the officer’s Coast Guard, but the enlisted just play in it”. I’m wondering if it’s a simple case of wires getting crossed.

  • Old Snipe

    Type your comment here. MCPO, I do not see how the Eagle is consider the “officer’s cutter”, really surprised to see someone with MCPO as user saying such. The Eagle represents all of the members of the Coast Guard and there is many and has been many enlisted member that are attached to this and help maintain, as well as train the cadets that will one day join the fleet of all Coast Guard member,or in other words the Coast Guard Family!!

  • LoveCGDivers!

    Get a life! That is a great picture. Why do people constantly spend time correcting others and criticizing?

  • Guest

    Are they allowed to use photoshop or aloud to use photoshop? Couldn’t find it in the regulations anywhere…

  • Lee

    Would you have taken the darkroom away from Ansel Adams?