Nick Gruen, one of the 2021 winners submitted this gorgeous perspective to take home a cool $1,000. Photo: Nick Gruen
We’re so excited to announce the return of The Inertia Film & Photo Challenge 2022 presented by White Claw®! First launched in 2012 as a portfolio-based competition, we reimagined the contest last year to celebrate the rich creative energy of surf and outdoors through moving and still imagery in four unique categories with cash prizes that require only a single-photo or video submission: Black & White, Lineups, EMERGE, and Short Profile Films. With nearly 1,000 stunning entries in 2021, we were blown away by the level of talent. Selecting winners was a painstaking, but rewarding process. There was simply too much great to go around. That’s why we’re so excited to fire it up again.
In partnership with White Claw®, MIIR, and PARKIT, cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of the four categories. With a total purse of $5,000, each photo category has a $1,000 winning prize, and the winner of the Short Profile Film category will receive $2,000.
Rules
The entry period begins today, and submissions will be accepted until April 15, 2022. Creatives may submit up to one entry per day.
Judging
On April 19, finalists will be announced, selected by The Inertia editorial team. Winners will be announced on April 30 live (and online for those not in Southern California) at Traveler Surf Club in Malibu. The winners will be determined by averaging three judging groups: The Inertia editorial team, expert photographers and cinematographers, and public vote via Instagram in a bracket-style competition on The Inertia IG Stories. Yup, you’ll get a say in who takes home these cash prizes, so make sure you’re tuned into the action by following us on Instagram. More information about the contest is available on the official contest site and below:
The Inertia Film & Photo Challenge BW 2021 Winner: Tanner Olthoff
Black and White presented by White Claw®
Less is often more when capturing the essence of the ocean and outdoors. Sometimes that means black and white. This one’s all about the dramatic feel of the photo, where color can be a distraction.
The Inertia Film & Photo Challenge Lineups 2021 Winner: Austin Mullen
Lineups presented by PARKIT
We want to see your best lineup pics. Empty waves, zoomed out shots, pulled back perfection. There’s nothing better than arriving at the beach with the gentle puff of offshore winds grooming a well-organized swell. Unless that same scene is devoid of surfers. Obv.
EMERGE presented by Miir
EMERGE presented by Miir celebrates the world’s most talented up-and-coming photographers under 25. The next generation of creatives is here. Entrants must be 25 or younger in order to be eligible to receive a prize.
Short Profile Film
Have an inspiring story about someone doing great things in surf and outdoor culture? We want to see it. Submit it here. Submissions should be two- to four-minute narratives and will be judged on the depth of the narrative and the visual aesthetic of the edit. See the above profile of Kyle Thiermann for inspiration.
Best of luck! A huge thank you again to our partners at White Claw®, Parkit, and Miir, for helping to make this contest possible and supporting the amazing creatives in surf and outdoors. We can’t wait to see your submissions, so enter here until 4/15/2022.
