Texas Forest Trail Region Announces Winning Photos in the Spring 2013 Photo Competition
NACOGDOCHES- Texas Forest Trail Region announced the winning photographs on May 2 for the Spring 2013 “We Pine for East Texas” Photography Competition on its Facebook page (Facebook.com/texasforesttrail ). Certificates and $3400 in cash prizes were awarded to the 17 recipients. The contest celebrates the natural and cultural treasures of East Texas to encourage travelers and locals alike to explore this heritage-rich region of Texas. The announcement comes on the eve of National Travel & Tourism Week, which celebrates the importance of travel and tourism to our national, state, and local economies.
Of the hundreds of photos submitted during the four-week contest ending April 7, over 300 were deemed eligible based on content matter, location, and production quality. One week of Fan Favorite voting followed the contest’s closing, in which the public could vote daily on their best-liked images on the Texas Forest Trail Region’s Facebook page. The photographer who wins the Fan Favorite voting will receive $100.
Because these images will be used by the Texas Forest Trail Region and its regional partners in promoting East Texas in publications and social media, the photo contest challenged photographers to submit original, full-color images that reflect the wonder, the uniqueness, and the character of the Texas Forest Trail Region, a 35-county area of East Texas.
Members of the Trail’s board and guest photography professional Andrew Brosig of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel sifted through the photos assessing how well the photo’s content adhered to the theme and displayed technical excellence. The judges selected one White Ribbon Grand Prize winner ($400), four Blue Ribbon winners ($250 each), five Red Ribbon winners ($100), and ten Honorable Mentions. In addition to the Texas Forest Trail Region awards, six Forest Trail partner organizations sponsored specific categories. These patrons included the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nacogdoches Main Street, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau, Beaumont Convention and Visitor Bureau, and Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum.
“The goal of the contest was to build a dynamic photo library representing the beauty and mystery of the East Texas region that we could use to promote travel to and around this area,” said Mary Turner, Executive Director of the Texas Forest Trail Region. “We were exceedingly pleased with the enthusiasm, interest, and originality shown by our contestants. We were grateful to amass a treasure trove of photos to use.”
All the winning photos and competition entrants can be viewed on the organization’s Facebook page located at facebook.com/texasforesttrail .
Texas Forest Trail Region is a regional tourism initiative developed by the Texas Historical Commission that helps Texans connect with their roots and visitors experience the Texas story. The Texas Forest Trail Region encompasses 35 counties of East Texas including Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Walker and Wood.
For more information, contact Texas Forest Trail Region Executive Director Mary Turner at 936/560-3699 and [email protected], or visit texasforesttrail.com .
Texas Forest Trail Region’s 2013 “We Pine for East Texas”
Photo Contest Honorees
Grand Prize ($400)
“Zydeco 1” in Jefferson County by Lacie Grant
Blue Ribbon Winners ($250)
“Fishermen” in Wood County by Charles Wright
“Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area” in Newton County by Zelma Lias
“Sunset Talk” in Jasper County by Ramsay Campbell
“Ta-‘Da” in Rusk County by Leah Hamilton-Slider
All the winning photos and competition entrants can be viewed on the organization’s Facebook page located at facebook.com/texasforesttrail .
Red Ribbon Winners ($100)
“Fall in love with the Forest!” in San Jacinto County by Donna Allen
“Autumn Mist” in Angelina County by Larry Alford
“And then, God made a farmer” in Nacogdoches County by Megan Kelley
“Wild Bronc” in Tyler County by Lisa Richardson
“Sunrise” in Angelina County by Connie Thompson
Honorable Mention (Tote Bag + certificate)
“Tucker House at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center” in Nacogdoches County by Robin Johnson
“Sunset at Lake Livingston” in Polk County by Rachael Turner
“Dear Children, No thank you, from Turtle” in Montgomery County by Tiffany Terry
“Canoeists enjoy the Neches River” in Angelina/Houston Counties by Joe Pase
“Discussing the weather in the 1800’s’” in Nacogdoches County by Jennifer Bryant
“Warm Grass Sunset” in San Augustine County by Paul Bellinger
“Brakes Bayou” in Jefferson County by Richard James III
“Sunflowers and Thunderstorm” in Jefferson County by Lisa Richardson
“Tulips in Bloom” in Henderson County by Sherri Skeeters
“Way Back When…” in Marion County by Michelle Norris
Fan Favorite ($100) “Family Outing at the Blue Hole” in Angelina County by Rhonda Swanson
Sponsored Categories
Nacogdoches Main Street’s Downtown Nacogdoches ($250) “Nacogdoches City Hall proudly displaying our 9 Flags” by Tammy Scates
Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Spirit of Nac ($250) “Untitled” by Alex Shaw
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s Best of Shelby County ($250) “Toledo Bend” by Jean Wood
Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Real Longview ($250) “Longview Glow – Home of the Original Glow” by Linda Cortelyou
Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Best of Beaumont ($250) “My daughter’s commute through the Big Thicket” by Shawn Molina
Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown’s Our Built Heritage ($150) “Colorful Caboose” in Nacogdoches by Paul Bellinger