DTLB UNFILTERED
DTLB Unfiltered 2026
📸 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 judges who look for creativity, strong composition, and how well each image captures the true spirit of Downtown.
Check out the 2026 categories below and get your cameras ready for the Oct. 1 contest launch! Looking for inspo? Scroll down to see the winning photos from recent contests.
Categories
Photos in these categories must be taken between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, 2026 except for the “Outside the Frame” category.
💃 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 – Capture 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).
Category Descriptions
Take a moment to review the seven categories for this year’s contest!
💃 People, Places & Events
Capture the people, businesses, places and experiences that bring Downtown Long Beach to life. From local business owners and lively events to street scenes, shopping and everyday moments, showcase the people and activity that give DTLB its energy.
Look for:
- Small businesses and shopping
- Community events and activations
- People enjoying Downtown
- Lively street scenes and gathering places
🏙️ Architecture
Celebrate the design and details that shape Downtown Long Beach. Highlight everything from historic landmarks and Art Deco treasures to modern high-rises and unexpected architectural details.
Look for:
- Historic and iconic buildings
- Modern architecture and high-rises
- Facades, patterns and design details
- Creative uses of light, shadow and perspective
🌿 Flora & Fauna
Capture the furry, feathered and floral side of Downtown. From pets and urban wildlife to trees, flowers and greenery, showcase the nature that lives alongside DTLB’s urban landscape.
Look for:
- Pets enjoying Downtown
- Birds and urban wildlife
- Flowers, trees and landscaping
- Nature interacting with the cityscape
🎨 Arts of Downtown (New!)
Showcase the creativity woven throughout DTLB, from murals and public art to galleries, performances, installations and unexpected artistic moments.
Look for:
- Murals and public art
- Galleries and exhibitions
- Live performances
- Installations and creative spaces
- Unexpected artistic details throughout Downtown
🌊 Skyline & Waterfront
Capture the unique place where Downtown meets the Pacific. Showcase the skyline, harbor and waterfront from sweeping vistas to smaller moments that reflect DTLB’s connection to the water.
Look for:
- Downtown skyline and cityscapes
- Harbor and waterfront views
- Boats and maritime scenes
- Sunrises, sunsets and reflections
- Creative perspectives of the city and water
🏎️ Opposite of Ordinary
Show us what makes Downtown Long Beach Opposite of Ordinary. Interpret DTLB’s destination campaign through your own lens—whether that means unexpected contrasts, surprising perspectives, only-in-Downtown moments, or something entirely your own.
Important:
- Interpret Opposite of Ordinary in your own creative way
- Diptychs are welcome, but not required: a diptych is two photos placed side by side as one image to show a contrast or connection.
- Photos must feature Downtown Long Beach
- Think unexpected, distinctive, surprising or uniquely DTLB
🕐 Outside the Frame (Special Category)
Dig into your 2026 archives! While the main contest categories focus on photos captured during October, Outside the Frame opens the competition to Downtown moments photographed earlier in the year.From springtime scenes to summer events and everything in between, show us the Downtown moments that happened Outside the Frame.
Important:
- Photos must have been taken Jan. 1 – Sept. 30, 2026
- Photos must feature Downtown Long Beach
- This is the only category accepting photos taken outside the Oct. 1–31 contest period
DTLB Unfiltered Photography Walks
Hosted by Travis of Happily Bearded After, join a guided Downtown photography walk, meet fellow photo enthusiasts and capture photos to submit to the contest! Walks are open to photographers of all levels who are interested in gathering with folks who enjoy the art of photography. For more information on Long Beach Night Walks, visit the website and follow along on Instagram @happilybeardedafter.
Check out the upcoming Long Beach Night Walks below!
Winners
🏆 Not only will your photography skills shine, but recognition awaits! Honorable Mentions, Runners-Up, and 1st Place winners in each category will have their work proudly displayed along the 1st Street Transit Gallery through a special collaboration with Long Beach Transit. 🖼️✨
🎁 For those who claim the top spot in their category, there’s an awesome incentive: $200 worth of gift certificates to Downtown small businesses! It’s your chance to savor local flavors, find hidden treasures, and explore the unique charm of Downtown.
So, grab your camera and let your creativity run wild! Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a casual snapper, this competition is your chance to showcase what makes Downtown Long Beach extraordinary. 📷✨ #DTLBUnfiltered
Collaborators
DTLB Unfiltered Winners & Finalists
📸 Each year, DTLB Unfiltered photographers capture Downtown Long Beach through fresh perspectives and creative lenses. Entries are reviewed by a panel of local arts and photography professionals, who consider creativity, composition, category fit, and how well each image captures the essence of Downtown.
Explore the finalists and winners from the past three years below!
Unfiltered Staff Picks
Separate from the official judging process, DTLB Alliance staff select a few personal favorites from eligible submissions. These Staff Picks don’t factor into finalist or winner selections, they’re simply photos that stood out to our team and captured Downtown in a memorable way. We share Staff Picks alongside our finalists and winners on the @dtlb.arts Instagram to celebrate even more of the creativity captured through DTLB Unfiltered.
Check out some of our past Staff Picks below!