This fall, photographers are invited to look at Downtown Long Beach a little differently. The annual photography contest, DTLB Unfiltered, is calling upon shutterbugs of all experience levels to explore DTLB and submit photos of the area from Oct. 1 through 31, which is also October Arts Month.
The contest challenges photographers to capture the people, places, architecture, art and unexpected moments that make up Downtown, and encourages participants to explore DTLB with a camera in hand. Whether that means finding a new perspective on a familiar landmark, documenting a fleeting moment on the street or noticing a detail that might otherwise go unseen.
Seven ways to see Downtown
This year’s contest features six categories spanning Downtown’s urban landscape, arts, architecture and everyday life.
The seventh category, Outside the Frame, widens the timeline. Instead of requiring an October image, the category is open to photographs taken in or of Downtown between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, giving photographers a chance to revisit their archives and submit a favorite Downtown moment from earlier in the year.
- People, Places, & Events – Capture the heartbeat of Downtown by spotlighting people, businesses, places and experiences.
- Architecture – Frame the beauty of the city’s iconic, historic, and modern structures.
- Flora & Fauna – Showcase the beauty of our furry, feathered, and floral friends.
- Arts of Downtown – Depict the creativity woven throughout DTLB, from murals and public art to galleries, performances, installations, and unexpected artistic moments.
- Skyline & Waterfront – Highlight the unique connection between Downtown and the Pacific, from the harbor to hidden shoreline views.
- Opposite of Ordinary – Show us your interpretation of DTLB’s current destination campaign.
- Outside the Frame – Embrace the beauty of all seasons beyond fall (photos in and/or of Downtown taken at any point from January through September 2026).
Take the camera for a walk
Photographers looking for inspiration, or simply some company behind the camera, can also join a series of guided photo walks throughout October led by photographer Travis Stock-Tucker of Happily Bearded After and Long Beach Night Walks.
Each walk takes on a different DTLB Unfiltered theme:
- Oct. 2, 10 AM–noon: Flora & Fauna
- Oct. 14, 6–8 PM: Skyline & Waterfront and Architecture
- Oct. 18, 1–4 PM: Arts of Downtown, held in conjunction with the Long Beach Open Studio Tour
- Oct. 24, 6–8 PM: People, Places & Events, held during Downtown’s Fright Fest
The walks are open to photographers of all levels and offer a chance to explore Downtown alongside other photographers while scouting potential contest entries.
DTLB Unfiltered 2026 runs Oct. 1–31. Explore the categories, contest details and past finalists, or submit a photo beginning Oct. 1.