Long Beach, CA [Nov. 26, 2025] – 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 spirit 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 and local professional photographers.
“This year’s contest once again highlighted the incredible talent and creativity within our community,” said Asia Morris, DTLB Alliance Communications & Marketing Manager. “With more than 250 submissions, many of them truly exceptional, our panel of judges had the rewarding challenge of reviewing an impressive range of work. It was inspiring to see Downtown Long Beach captured in so many artful and unexpected ways through the lenses of these gifted photographers.”
After careful deliberation, the DTLB Alliance is proud to present the following winners:
- People, Places & Events – Mark Smolyar, “Agreement from Above”
- Skyline & Waterfront – Gabriel Aaron Barrera, “The Lone Mariner and the Liner”
- Flora & Fauna – Victor Ladd, “Still Waters, Many Options”
- Architecture – Lance Nassau, “Coastal Monuments”
- City Nights – Carlos Lomeli, “Long Beach Gradient”
- Opposite of Ordinary – Kateryna Kovalenko, “Wheel of Journey”
- Outside the Frame – James Rexwinkel, “International Gateway to the Moon”
In addition to their recognition, each winner will receive $200 in gift cards to Downtown small businesses. The finalists will be recognized in a private reception later this season. The photos will be used throughout the 2026 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, shared his excitement for this year’s contest and its continued role in celebrating Downtown through the art of photography.
“Unfiltered has truly become a cherished tradition that showcases the artistic expression and diverse perspectives of our community. This year’s entries once again highlighted the incredible talent of photographers who so vividly capture the spirit and character of Downtown Long Beach. Congratulations to this year’s winners for their exceptional work and for bringing the essence of Downtown Long Beach to life once again.”
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 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.