Best Of Texas Independence Trail
Entry Form

You are able to enter up to five (5) photos per category, provided that none of them were entered in a previous year’s edition of the contest. Please note that if you enter a photo in one category, it may not be entered in another – you can only enter it once. For a complete list of FAQ’s, click here.

LABELING/NAMING YOUR PHOTOGRAPH: IMAGES MUST NOT BE WATERMARKED. ALL FILE NAMES SHOULD CONTAIN THE ENTRANT’S LAST NAME, FIRST NAME AND THE COUNTY WHERE THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN. AN “_” SHOULD BE USED BETWEEN EACH OF THE ITEMS. SEQUENTIAL NUMBERING SHOULD BE USED (1,2,3,4 OR 5) TO NOTE NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER ENTRANT.

EXAMPLES:
FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_COUNTY#.JPG
SARAH_SMITH_GREGG_1.JPG

Show off your best photos of this 28-southeast Texas county area from the upper Texas coast of Galveston down to Port O’Connor, to Refugio and Goliad, to San Antonio and up to Bastrop and Brenham and Washington on the Brazos to just east of Houston in Liberty & Chambers counties. Show us your favorite historic site or place, gorgeous downtown, beach, wildflowers, food or festival! We want to see it all! This is your chance to show us what you love about this glorious part of the Lone Star State!This category includes the following counties: Austin • Bastrop • Bee • Bexar • Brazoria • Caldwell • Calhoun • Chambers • Colorado • DeWitt • Fayette • Fort Bend • Galveston • Goliad • Gonzales • Guadalupe • Harris • Jackson • Karnes • Lavaca • Liberty • Matagorda • Refugio • Victoria • Waller • Washington • Wharton • Wilson

Winner in this category will receive $250.

This category is sponsored by:

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A BIG TEXAS THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL OF THE SPONSORS FOR THIS CONTEST. WITHOUT THEM, THIS CONTEST WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

Grand Prize winner sponsor:

Fan Favorite sponsor:

Category sponsors:

Photo Contest FAQ's

What photos will be eligible for entry?

Photos fitting into any of the contest categories will be eligible provided that they were taken in a county that encompass the Texas Forest Trail Region, Texas Hill County Region, Texas Lakes Trail and the Texas Independence Trail Region in Texas.

Must photos have been taken during the current contest year to be eligible for entry?

Photos from any year are eligible for entry provided that they have not been entered in an earlier year’s edition of the contest. If you have good photos taken in the past, you are urged to enter them.

Will non-digital photos be eligible for entry?

The contest is restricted to digital photographs, but you may convert your non-digital photos to a digital format to make them eligible for entry.

Will I be eligible to enter the contest even if I don't live in Texas?

Yes, any photographer is eligible to enter the contest as long as the photo was taken in Texas.

Will I be eligible to enter, even if I’ve been a winner in a previous year’s edition of the contest?

Yes, all photographers are welcomed and encouraged to enter, including winners of previous contests.

Will I receive credit if my photos are used for publicity, display, or fund raising?

We can’t promise you this, but every attempt will be made to give credit when reasonably possible.

How will the contest entries be judged?

A panel of Texans will evaluate each entry for creativity, wow factor, and theme related composure.

How many photos will I be able to enter?

You will be able to enter up to five (5) photos per category, provided that none of them were entered in a previous year’s edition of the contest. That means you can enter a total of 60 photos – so get that camera out!

How long will the contest be open?

This year, we will be running our contest from September 18, 2024 through October 18, 2024.

What are the format requirements for the photo files?

Photos must be submitted in .jpg format. Large format photos (original size) are requested as they provide better clarity and resolution of the photo.

Is manipulation of images allowed?

Any manipulation of images must be limited to cropping and minor adjustments of color and contrast. Any other manipulation will make the photo ineligible for entry.

By entering, will I give up the copyright for my photo?

You must be the original owner of the copyright for your photo to be eligible for entry, and you will retain this copyright. By submitting an entry, you will give permission for royalty-free use of your entered photograph for publicity, display, and fund-raising.

When will the winners be announced?

The winners will be announced once the contest closes. Check back on texheritage.com for updates on the contest.

What if I have a question not answered above?

Please feel free to contact us via our contact page by clicking here

For complete photo contest rules and criteria, click here