What to even say about water? It covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, it takes up 60% of our bodies, it’s 95% of your favorite beer and it can be beautiful.

With summer around the corner, our photographers picked “water” as the theme of their monthly photo challenge.

In the wake of Long Beach reemerging from year-long darkness due to COVID-19, they captured people enjoy their favorite watersports, revelers feeling the joy of their first crowded boat party since the coronavirus arrived, and some serene natural moments.

Kitesurfers over the beach as a man lies in the sun in Long Beach on June 8, 2021. Photo by Tess Kazenoff.
A party boat cruises through Queensway Bay in Long Beach Monday, June 1, 2021. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A rider on personal watercraft kicks up water heading out to open sea through the Queensway Bay in Long Beach Monday, June 1, 2021. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Riders on personal watercraft come back from a ride as they cruise past a Carnival ship in Long Beach Monday, June 1, 2021. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A dog shakes his body as his owner pours water on him with a watering pail during a bath in Central Long Beach on June 1, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
A dog’s tongue reaches his lower leg during a bath at a home in Central Long Beach on June 1, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
Calm, waveless water ripples in Long Beach on June 8, 2021. Photo by Tess Kazenoff.
A reflection displays a day at the beach in Long Beach on June 8, 2021. Photo by Tess Kazenoff.
A person runs across the beach during a day of kite surfing in Long Beach on June 8, 2021. Photo by Tess Kazenoff.
A person walks into the water with a kite in Long Beach on June 8, 2021. Photo by Tess Kazenoff.
Lillian Kroeze, 6, waters plants in Long Beach’s Lakewood Village neighborhood, Sunday, June 6. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Water drops on daylilies glisten in the afternoon sun, Sunday, June 6, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Water beads on a surfboard, Sunday, June 6, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Water trickles down rocks into a small pond, Sunday, June 6, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
An ice-cold glass of water on a warm spring day, Sunday, June 6, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
A man fishes in Queensway Bay, Thursday, June 10, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
A diver rinses off on a dock in Queensway Bay in Downtown Long Beach, Thursday, June 10, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
The water of Queensway Bay shimmers under the late-afternoon sun in Downtown Long Beach, Thursday, June 10, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.