The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office today announced the 22 winners of the Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest.
Water Power Technologies Office
February 20, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) today announced the 22 winners of the Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest. Photographers and videographers, including professionals and amateurs, submitted awe-inspiring content that showcased water power technologies across hydropower and marine energy, research and development activities, infrastructure, and the people behind the sector.
"We received incredible photo and video submissions depicting many water power technologies and the people who make them possible," said Jennifer Garson, WPTO Director. "Hydropower and marine energy have an important role on our clean energy system, and it's exciting to share these new photos and videos showing what these technologies can do."
The winners were selected from a pool of more than 360 submissions from 52 competitors. Eligible winners will receive $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place across eight categories. Federal employees were eligible for recognition awards only. The winners are featured on the DOE Flickr account, and other eligible submissions will be posted soon. These photos and videos are available to the public and also may be used in DOE outreach materials.
Hoover Dam, on the border between Nevada and Arizona. Taken from the bridge walkway 900 feet above the Colorado River. Photo by Connie Castle, Bureau of Reclamation
- Amber Tilton from Portland, Oregon
The Dalles Dam Spillway on the Columbia River in Oregon. Photo by Garrett Hall, a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and released by Amber Tilton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Second and Third Place Winners for Conventional Hydropower and Pumped Storage
- Second place winner: Arnel Garcia from San Diego, California
- Third place winner: Dave Dempsey from Ephrata, Washington
- Third place winner: Abraham Harris from Hyattsville, Maryland
- Third place winner: Pablo McLoud from Volcano, Hawaii
- Third place winner: Krysta Rasmussen from Everett, Washington
2023 Make A Splash Contest 2nd and 3rd Place Winners - Conventional Hydropower and Pumped Storage
Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona. Arnel Garcia, the photographer, noted he was awestruck when he saw the Glen Canyon Dam while driving through Arizona. He had to park, appreciate, and capture this engineering marvel along the Colorado River.
Arnel Garcia
February 11, 2025
Second and Third Place Winners for Small, Distributed, or Low-Impact Hydropower
- Second place winner: Seed Media from Valdez, Alaska
- Third place winner: Andrew Baumgartner from Alameda, California
- Third place winner: Krysta Rasmussen from Everett, Washington
- Third place winner: Chris Conover from Beverly, Massachusetts
- Third place winner: Sean Kenney from Atlanta, Georgia
2023 Make A Splash Contest 2nd and 3rd Place Winners - Small, Distributed, or Low-Impact Hydropower
Power Creek Dam Project in Cordova, Alaska. The Power Creek hydroelectric plant is located 7 miles east of Cordova and has a total installed generating capacity of 6 megawatts. Photo taken by Levi Rowland, edited by Deanna Kendall, and released by Thomas Tapp, Seed Media
Seed Media
February 11, 2025
Check out the videos that placed second and third in this category:
- Second place: Seed Media from Valdez, Alaska
- Third place: Andrew Baumgartner from Alameda, California
Oneka's iceberg buoy, transforming seawater into fresh water, using energy from the waves. Taken in Fort Pierce, Florida. Photo taken by Gareth Leah, Well Good Productions, and released by Marie-Cécile Cléroux, Oneka
- Lynn Spinnato from Setauket, New York
Power electronics research for marine energy development at Stony Brook University in New York. Photo taken by Lynn Spinnato, Stony Brook University, and released by Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) Administration
Second and Third Place Winners for Marine Energy and Powering the Blue Economy
- Second place winner Marine Energy: Philip Irwin from New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Third place winner Marine Energy: Martin Wosnik from Newmarket, New Hampshire
- Second place winner Powering the Blue Economy: John McCord from Manteo, North Carolina
- Third place winner Powering the Blue Economy: John McCord from Manteo, North Carolina
2023 Make A Splash Contest 2nd and 3rd Place Winners - Marine Energy and Powering the Blue Economy
Pure Marine's DUO wave energy device being tested at the U.S. Navy's Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin (MASK) facility in Carderock, Maryland.
Philip Irwin, Pure Marine Gen Ltd
February 11, 2025
Check out the videos that placed second and third in this category:
- Second place: Tyler Robertson from Chelmsford, Massachusetts
- Third place: Nicole Marone from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fishing boats downstream from the Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River in Washington. Photo by Dave Dempsey, Grant County Public Utility District
Natel's research engineer Simone Lassar pauses while working with other Natel personnel and a crane operator to install a new test turbine in Natel's closed hydraulic loop facility in preparation for fish passage testing. Photo by Elizabeth (Betsy) Pfeiffer, Natel
Second and Third Place Winners for Faces of Water Power
- Second place winner: Abigale Snortland from Seattle, Washington
- Second place winner: Dan Hughes from Lawrence, Kansas
- Third place winner: John McCord from Manteo, North Carolina
- Third place winner: Andrew Baumgartner from Alameda, California
- Third place winner: Dan Hughes from Lawrence, Kansas
2023 Make A Splash Contest 2nd and 3rd Place Winners - Faces of Water Power
Ama Hartman, staff engineer in the Marine Renewable Energy Lab at the University of Washington, with the oscillating wave energy converter test article that she investigates at the Washington Air-Sea Interaction Research Facility. The newly completed test article will be used for several research projects to better understand the dynamics and control of this class of wave energy converter.
Abigale Snortland, University of Washington
February 11, 2025
Get inspired by all the winning submissions to this year's contest and submissions to the 2018 contest, learn more about the Make A Splash Contest, and stay in the know with WPTO! Receive the latest information on funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the Hydro Headlines and The Water Column newsletters, as well as the comprehensive Water Wire newsletter.