DTLB Unfiltered 2025

📸 Every October Arts Month, DTLB Unfiltered invites photographers to showcase Downtown Long Beach in new and inspiring ways. Through seven contest categories, photographers of all levels highlight the people, places, and moments that define the DTLB community. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of local experts and past winners, who look for creativity, strong composition, and how well each image captures the true spirit of Downtown.

Categories

All photos in these categories must be taken between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, 2025.

💃 People, Places & Events – Capture the heartbeat of Downtown.

🏙️ Architecture – Frame the city’s iconic structures.

🐾 Flora & Fauna – Showcase the beauty of our furry, feathered, and floral friends.

🌙 City Nights – Capture Downtown after dark, from nightlife energy to moody city lights.

🌊 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 2025).

Category Descriptions

Take a moment to review the seven categories for this year’s contest!

People, Places & Events – Capture the heartbeat of Downtown by spotlighting small businesses, the shopping experience and all the events DTLB has to offer. Our ‘People, Places, and Events’ category invites you to freeze moments of pure joy and excitement as people immerse themselves in the diverse tapestry of our bustling city. Whether it’s a small business owner in their element, a captivating event, a lively street scene, or individuals reveling in the beauty of iconic places, this category celebrates the heartwarming and unforgettable moments that make Downtown truly special. So, grab your camera and join us in showcasing the dynamic spirit of this community through your lens!​

Architecture – Celebrate the design and detail that shapes Downtown Long Beach! The “Architecture” category invites participants to highlight the city’s striking structures, from historic landmarks and art deco treasures to modern high-rises and hidden architectural gems. Whether it’s the grandeur of iconic facades, the patterns of everyday buildings, or the interplay of light and shadow across our urban landscape, let your lens reveal the stories these structures tell. Show us how architecture gives Downtown its unique character and personality!

🌱 Flora & Fauna – Showcase the beauty of our furry, feathered, and floral friends. Embrace the wild and wonderful! Our “Flora & Fauna’’ category invites you to capture the beauty and charm of Long Beach’s furry, feathered, and floral inhabitants. From playful pets to fascinating urban wildlife and the vibrant greenery that surrounds them, let your lens bring their stories to life. Get ready to share the joy and wonder of our animal friends, as well as the enchanting world of flora, in this delightful category!

🌙 City Nights – Experience Downtown Long Beach after the sun goes down. From glowing skylines and waterfront reflections to the buzz of nightlife and evening gatherings, this category invites participants to capture the unique energy and atmosphere that only emerges once the city lights come on. Capture Downtown after dark, from nightlife energy to moody city lights.

🌊 Skyline & Waterfront – Capture the beauty where city meets sea! The “Skyline & Waterfront” category celebrates Downtown Long Beach’s stunning horizons — from glittering skylines and iconic silhouettes to sweeping harbor views and tranquil coastal moments. Whether it’s sunrise over the ocean, ships in the port, or the city lights reflecting on the water, let your lens showcase the dynamic connection between land and sea that makes Downtown so unforgettable. Share the views that define our skyline and the waterfront that anchors our community!

🏎️ Opposite of Ordinary – In celebration of our current destination campaign, “Opposite of Ordinary”, Unfiltered participants are invited to interpret the campaign by submitting their very own diptychs (two images side by side) that showcase two opposite, but complementary subjects in Downtown. Need an example? Take a look around at any of the campaign pole banners throughout DTLB, or see below for a few examples, including our “Like swan boats and IndyCars” image. We can’t wait to see how you capture Downtown through this creative prompt!

‘Outside the Frame’ – Dig into your archives and transport us to moments that danced ‘Outside the Frame’ between Jan. 1, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2025. In this special category, photographers can submit their captures of DTLB throughout the year. While the main categories focus on capturing Downtown scenes from Oct. 1 to 31 this category invites you on a journey across all of 2025. Whether it’s the vibrant energy of springtime, the long, sun-drenched days of summer, or any moment in between, this is your chance to showcase the evolving essence of DTLB.

Collaborators

DTLB Unfiltered Winners & Finalists

📸  Each October Arts Month, photographers turn their lenses towards the beauty of Downtown Long Beach through several unique categories highlighting its community, culture, and creativity. Each entry is 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. Click the buttons below to see the finalists’ photos from past contests.