A sea lion chomping on a guitarfish and a scene showing a flock of seagulls sitting on an eroded area of sand at Main Beach took top honors in this year’s 13th annual Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest.

The contest, put on to highlight the importance of conserving the environment off Laguna Beach’s seven miles of coastline and to celebrate its underwater world, drew 77 entries from amateur and professional photographers across Southern California, and as far away as Georgia, organizers said.

“Shredding the Guitar,” by Noah Gilbert, won 1st Place in the Professional Category of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

“Chillin Gulls,” by Robb Mitchell won 1st Place in the Amateur Category. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

“Dorid the Explorer,” by Ely Cashman won 2nd Place in the Amateur Category of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

“Symmetry,” by Andre Magarao won 3rd Place in the Professional Category of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

“Nature’s Artistry,” by Michael Tanaka won 3rd Place in the Amateur Category of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

“Below the Surface,” by Stan Moniz won 2nd Place in the Professional Category. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

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“Shredding the Guitar,” by Noah Gilbert, won 1st Place in the Professional Category of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of Laguna Bluebelt Coalition)

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Winners and those scoring honorable mentions were celebrated recently during a showing at the Laguna College of Art and Design gallery in downtown Laguna Beach.

“They were incredibly passionate,” Bluebelt co-founder Mike Beanan said in describing the photographers who talked about their love of the ocean environment.

“This unique photo contest showcases the many ways we enjoy Laguna’s Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, while documenting the remarkable recovery of Laguna’s iconic sea life,” Beanan said. “Many of these images over the previous years are used to educate the City Council, California Fish & Game Commission, California Coastal Commission and other agencies about the incredible success we have had as a community working together toprotect what we love.”

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This year, in the amateur category, first place went to Robb Mitchell, of Laguna Beach, for his “Chillin’ Gulls” photos; Ely Cashman, of Del Mar, with “Dorid the Explorer” received second place; and Michael Tanaka, of Laguna Beach, with “Nature’s Artistry” came in third place.

Mitchell took his photo at Main Beach in early March.

“We had some heavy rain and high surf,” he said, recalling the moment. “This discharge from the storm drain that runs under the boardwalk had eroded the beach leaving some raised areas. The gulls were just chillin’ there and I thought it was a cool shot with the birds, Bird Rock in the background and Catalina.”

“I look for things others might not notice,” he added.

In the professional category, the top prize went to Noah Gilbert, of Los Angeles, for “Shredding the Guitar;” second place went to Stan Moniz, of Laguna Hills, for “Below the Surface;” and Andre Magarao, of Laguna Beach, won third place for “Symmetry.”

Gilbert was out on a whale-watching trip and heading back toward the Laguna Beach shoreline near Treasure Island when he observed a bait ball in the water and drove closer to get shots of the birds near it.

“We saw a sea lion acting erratically,” he said. “As we watched, we saw he had something in his mouth. There were a couple of pelicans trying to fight the sea lion for the meal and the sea lion was whipping the guitarfish back and forth trying to tear it apart and keep the birds at bay. It wasn’t until I got back in front of the computer that we could easily make out the fish in its mouth.”

Anne Girtz, Jinger Wallace and Charlotte Masarik coordinated the photo contest. Rich German with Project O, Julianne Steers, a marine scientist, and Kate Vylet, a conservation photographer from Monterey Bay, selected this year’s winners.

“Laguna’s MPA is the ultimate example of our commitment to protect our precious coastline and the life that calls it home,” said German, a Laguna Beach environmentalist who regularly paddles and photographs wildlife off Laguna Beach’s shoreline. “These images bring that commitment to light in a beautiful, visual way.”

The coalition also works on projects to educate the public at events such as the Coast Film Festival and Kelpfest and at the Laguna Art Museum and is collaborating with Orange County Coastkeeper on a Berm Buddy Project at Aliso Beach, which educates visitors to the beach about the importance of the beach berm and its ecosystem to improve ocean water quality.

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