For 50 years, the woods and waters of Big Thicket National Preserve have inspired people to seek adventure, connect with nature, and make memories.
To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we invite you to share your photos that represent what Big Thicket means to you. You may submit photos from any year.
How to Enter
Email your photo to bith_information@nps.gov with “Photo Contest” in the subject line.
Please include the following in your email:
Title of your photo
Your name
(Optional) Tell us about your photo! Where and when did you take it? Does it bring back a memory? Are there any other details you'd like to share?
Please read the contest rules below before entering.
Contest deadline: 11:59 pm central time on August 31, 2024.
Give it your best shot!
NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga
Voting Process
The Big Thicket digital media team will select 5 photo finalists, which will then be shared for public voting on Facebook, Instagram, and our website in early September. The voting period will be open for 1 week after the finalists are announced.
Prize
The winning photo will be featured on the Big Thicket website and the winner will have an opportunity to share their story behind the photo. It will also be shared on our Facebook (to be used as our cover photo), Instagram, and X (Twitter) accounts.
A staff favorite, runners-up, and honorable mentions will be featured on our website and shared on social media as well.
Contest Rules
Photos must be taken within the boundaries of Big Thicket National Preserve. Please state the location of the photo(s) in your submission.
Photos from any year are permitted.
The contest is open to the public. Entrants under 18 years of age require the permission of a parent or guardian. By entering the contest, entrants under 18 years of age indicate that they have obtained the permission of a parent or guardian.
The contest is not open to Big Thicket NPS employees.
Entries should show best practices for visiting national parks and public lands. Photographers and visitors are not allowed to harass wildlife or pick vegetation at any time. Touching or baiting wildlife is a form of harassment. Images containing illegal or prohibited activities will be disqualified. It is the entrant's responsibility to know and follow park regulations. Photos must be family friendly.
Entries with watermarks are not permitted.
Entries should not contain recognizable images of people's faces.
To qualify for the top prize, photos must be 6MP (six megapixels – 3072 x 2048px) or larger. Photos smaller than 6MP are permitted, but will only be awarded honorable mentions if selected.
Photos in landscape (horizontal) orientation are preferred. To qualify for the top prize, photos should be landscape (horizontal) orientation to display correctly on the park's website and social media banners. Portrait (vertical) images may be awarded honorable mentions. If you submit a portrait (vertical) image, we may crop it to fit properly on the website and social media.
By submitting, the entrant agrees that they are the sole copyright owner of the image. By submitting an entry, the entrant (in case of minors, the minor's parent/legal guardians) grants the National Park Service, or its authorized representatives and contractors, the right to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, or display and use these materials in whole or in part, for government and non-government purposes, in any manner or media (whether now existing or created in the future), in perpetuity, and in all languages throughout the world. Use of this material shall include, but not be limited to, audiovisual programs; museum exhibits; websites; publications; product artwork; and project publicity. Additionally, entrants waive the right to inspect or approve any use of the material and any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of the material. The entrant holds harmless, releases, and forever discharges the National Park Service from all claims, demands, and causes of action which they, their heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons acting on their behalf or on behalf of their estate have or may have by reason of this authorization. The entrant agrees to indemnify and hold the Government harmless for any and all losses, claims, expenses, suits, costs, demands and damages or liabilities on account of personal injury, death, or property damages of any nature whatsoever and by whomsoever made, arising out of the activities associated with the project in which they are taking part.
Participants may enter as many images as they wish before 11:59 pm central time, August 31, 2024.
If selected as a winning image, the entrant must be able to provide the highest resolution version of the image possible via email.
