Long Beach, CA (Nov. 25, 2024) – The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is thrilled to announce the winners of our annual DTLB Unfiltered photo contest. This contest is a celebration of the remarkable beauty, diversity, and vibrancy of Downtown Long Beach, as captured through the lenses of talented photographers of all levels of experience.
Each entry was evaluated, taking into consideration creativity, composition, responsiveness to the category prompt, and the ability to convey the essence of Downtown, by a panel of judges made up of Arts Council for Long Beach staff, local professional photographers, and previous DTLB Unfiltered winners.
“This year’s contest brought an incredible showcase of talent and creativity from photographers capturing the essence of Downtown Long Beach,” said Asia Morris, DTLB Alliance Communications & Marketing Manager. “Our panel of judges carefully reviewed entries across all categories, sharing their individual perspectives on each photograph. It was a joy to see the many ways our city was brought to life through the lens of these talented individuals.”
After careful deliberation, the DTLB Alliance is proud to present the following winners:
- People, Places & Events – Daniel Werre, “Cyclists”
- Skyline & Architecture – Joseph Stitt, “Colors”
- Flora & Fauna – Eric Benson, “Standing Tall”
- Shop Small – Daniel Werre, “Pixel”
- Opposite of Ordinary – Bob Ring, “Tale of Two Cities”
- Outside the Frame – George Cruz, “Home in the Fog”
In addition to their recognition, each winner will receive $200 in gift cards to Downtown businesses. The finalists will be recognized in a private reception later this fall. The photos will be used throughout the 2025 calendar year in DTLB Alliance marketing efforts and prominently displayed on transit kiosks throughout Downtown in partnership with Long Beach Transit.
Austin Metoyer, DTLB Alliance President & CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the contest and its role in showcasing Downtown through the art of photography.
“Unfiltered has grown into a great tradition that highlights the creativity and unique perspective of our community. With over 230 submissions, this year’s contest once again showcased the incredible talent of photographers who captured and reflected the beauty of Downtown Long Beach. The winning submissions are a testament to the artistic spirit and passion that define our city. Congratulations to this year’s winners for their outstanding work and for bringing the beauty and energy of Downtown Long Beach to life.”
DTLB Alliance would like to thank all the photographers who participated in this year’s contest, as well as the judges and collaborators, who made this event possible, including the Arts Council for Long Beach, Travis Stock-Tucker of Happily Bearded After who organized three Unfiltered nighttime photography walks, and Long Beach Transit. We look forward to continuing our mission of showcasing the best of Downtown Long Beach through the art of photography in the years to come.
Please visit downtownlongbeach.org/dtlb-unfiltered to see all finalists’ photos, including the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions.
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About: The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. The DTLB Alliance is recognized as the voice of Downtown Long Beach by the City of Long Beach and the State of California. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the organization creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines. For additional information, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org and follow on Facebook @downtownlongbeach, on “X” (formerly Twitter) @dtlballiance and Instagram @dtlballiance.