CLC photo contest winners announced
As part of Virginia Sea Grant’s Coastal Leadership Conference in October 2026, Virginia Sea Grant hosted a photo contest to highlight the unique perspectives of individuals across the Commonwealth through photography. There were over 70 submissions capturing a variety of marine and coastal aspects of Virginia. A jury of four professional photographers chose a winner for each of the seven categories: Science & Research, Coastal Communities, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Marine Life, Coastal Landscapes, Recreation, Fan Favorite. For the Fan Favorite category, the jurors chose an additional photograph from each of the categories, and the winner was selected based on the photograph that received the most public votes. Winning photographs were presented at the Coastal Leadership Conference on October 14, 2026.
Read more about each winner and their photographs below.
TJ Byrd’s photograph, captured in Henrico, won the Marine Life category.
“When I started birding in 2020, I often came across photographers who would give me tips on how to find and identify birds I hadn’t seen before. This made me want to start taking pictures so I could verify, document, and share what I saw,” said Byrd. “Wildlife photography gets me outdoors, challenges me to capture interesting animal behaviors (like these otters playing while balancing on a floating log), and feeds my curiosity about the world and what I may find next.”
Mackay Kier’s photograph, captured in Virginia Beach, won the Recreation category.
“As a lifelong surfer, I’ve found the first waves at the break of dawn often provide the smoothest and dreamiest rides of the day,” said Kier. “Pictured here is a high-performance rider capitalizing on this early morning swell before the crowds fill in. Even in the cold winter months, dedicated surfers like this rider and I will endure freezing duck dives just for one 15-second rush that can fill the soul with enough excitement to last till spring.”
Nichole Leighton’s photograph, captured in Hampton, won the Fisheries & Aquaculture category.
“Photography allows us to document the living history of Virginia’s fisheries and aquaculture heritage,” said Leighton. “As the industry faces challenges and change, we have an opportunity to preserve generations of knowledge and tradition. I hope my photography helps people see beyond what’s on their plate, because there are stories worth telling, and they’re not always about the one that got away.”
Lauren Nelson’s photograph, captured in Virginia Beach, won the Coastal Landscapes category.
“Captured along a Virginia shoreline, this piece uses a Polaroid that has been physically lifted and re-formed onto paper to reflect the shoreline’s constant natural transformation,” said Nelson. “The deliberate manipulation of the photographic emulsion parallels human intervention in the landscape. It serves as a visual reminder of the way we, too, constantly mold and reshape the world around us.”
Jacqueline Westerbrink’s photograph, captured in Norfolk, won the Coastal Communities category.
“I live and work in the Netherlands, but for four years already I have been an active member of and volunteer at Sail Nauticus, Norfolk, VA’s community sailing center on the Elizabeth River,” said Westerbrink. “My Coastal Community photo was taken during a Sail Nauticus sail race. For the sailors, it was a bit unfortunate that there was not so much wind, but it allowed for a nice reflection of the sails in the water.”
Cansu Yalim’s photograph, captured in the Chesapeake Bay, won the Science & Research category.
“This photograph was taken along the Virginia coastline and captures a team of researchers and students installing experimental oyster reef structures in a shallow coastal environment,” said Yalim. “The project focuses on exploring nature-based solutions for shoreline protection, habitat restoration, and coastal resilience, bringing together researchers and local conservation partners to better understand how these structures can support marine ecosystems and reduce coastal erosion.”
Jacqueline Westerbrink’s photograph, captured in Norfolk, received the most votes in the Fan Favorite category.
“My fan-favorite photo of the Norfolk waterfront was taken at one of the Sail Nauticus Full Moon Sails. The low-angle shot, from inside the boat, adds something to the perspective,” said Westerbrink. “Sailing—together with my partner, Vincent Tophoff, who is the manager of the sailing program—is one of my passions. I love to be outdoors, both on the water and in nature, and Sail Nauticus organizes a lot of fun activities for its members, like sail training, sail racing, social sails & potlucks, full moon sails, and Women on the Water.”
