Texas Forest Trail Region Begins Fan Favorite Voting For Its “WE PINE FOR EAST TEXAS” Photo Competition

NACOGDOCHES– Beginning Thursday, April 18, in a seven-day competition, the general public can vote daily on-line for the best-liked photograph among the qualified 300+ images submitted to the Texas Forest Trail Region’s 2013 Photo Contest. The photographer of the Fan Favorite winner receives a cash prize ($100) and the distinction of being the 2013 Fan Favorite.

People can vote for their favorite photo, April 18-April 25, 2013, in two ways. Visit the Texas Forest Trail Region’s “Photo Contest” tab on its Facebook page (facebook.com/texasforesttrail) or access the contest page at the organization’s webpage (TexasForestTrail.com/photo). Being awarded Fan Favorite winner does not preclude winning a judges’ award. Last year’s Fan Favorite by Nacogdoches photographer Robin Johnson also won the judges’ award in the Family Fun category and has been published in at least two travel magazines, including Texas Monthly, with photo credit.

All photo contest winners will be announced on the Texas Forest Trail Region’s Facebook page on May 2, 2013 and nearly $4000 in prize monies will be awarded. Judges select one White Ribbon Grand Prize winner ($500), four Blue Ribbon winners ($250 each), and five Red Ribbon winners ($100).

In addition to the Texas Forest Trail Region winners, the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nacogdoches Main Street, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, City of Longview and Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum of Beaumont are each sponsoring cash prizes for winning photographs in their designated categories.

Titled “We Pine for East Texas,” the four-week on-line photo contest that ended April 7, called for original, full-color photographs that reflect the wonder, the uniqueness, and the character of the Texas Forest Trail Region, a 35-county area of East Texas. Suggested ideas for the photo subjects are regional events, family fun, nature scenes, East Texas heritage, remarkable East Texans, and the unique ways of East Texas culture. The submitted photos will be used in publications and social media to market the region and credit is given to the photographers.

The Texas Forest Trail Region is a regional tourism initiative developed by the Texas Historical Commission that helps Texans connect with their roots and for visitors to experience the Texas story in 35 counties of East Texas. For more information, contact Texas Forest Trail Region Executive Director Mary Turner at 936/560-3699 and [email protected], or visittexasforesttrail.com .