New Issue of Arkansastravel.com Features Photo Contest Winners
April 2003

Wow! We at Parks and Tourism found out quickly that there are some great photographers out there. And we'd like to thank everyone who submitted photographs for the "Arkansas Wildlife" category. We had 229 entries in all -- which made for very tough decisions. And remember, the contest is on-going (details below). So get out, see Arkansas and take a few photographs while you're out there!

Congratulations to the Arkansas Wildlife category winner, Gary Felker of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The runner up was Tim Carr of Russellville, Arkansas. Their outstanding photographs are shown below.

Winner: Gary Felker said stealth was key in getting this shot of a great blue heron that was on a small lake near Fort Smith.	Runner Up: Tim Carr took this shot of an elk near Ponca, Arkansas.
Honorable Mention: A shot taken by Mark Wilson of North Little Rock, Ark.	Honorable Mention: A shot taken by Roxanna Bradley of Fayetteville, Ark.

In the May issue of Arkansastravel.com, the winner and runner-up in the "Arkansas Wildflowers" category will be announced.

And the contest continues...

Picture yourself in Arkansas. Surrounded by pristine lakes and rivers and landscapes ranging from the Delta to the mountains. Enjoying a day on the greens or an evening of the blues. Taking in the symphony orchestra or tapping along to folk music on a courthouse square. Perusing unique shops in a historic district, or sampling the nightlife of an exciting city. Doing it all, or doing nothing.

Now... just take a picture of what you see and find out if you’ve got what it takes to win the “Picture Yourself in Arkansas” photography contest. The department is launching a photography contest, consisting of six categories. A winner and runner-up will be announced in each issue of Arkansastravel.com, which is posted every other month. For instance, the winner and runner up of the first category, “Arkansas Wildlife,” will be announced when the March issue of Arkansastravel.com is posted. At the end of the contest, a grand prize winner will be chosen from the winners of each category.

The winner of each category will receive a $30 gift certificate and the runner up will receive $10 gift certificate, both of which can be redeemed at the Parks and Tourism central office gift shop or at an Arkansas State Park gift store if the photograph is taken at a state park. Additionally, Camera Mart of Little Rock will provide the winner of each category a $75 gift certificate and the runner up a $25 gift certificate.

The grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift certificate redeemable at Camera Mart of Little Rock, and a four-day, three-night vacation for two to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of its “Dozen Distinct Destinations.” The Ozark Mountain getaway includes breakfasts, lodging and a spa package for two at the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, tickets to the Great Passion Play, Eureka Springs Gardens and the city’s trolley, and three lunches and three dinners for two at some of the city’s best restaurants.

The overall “Picture Yourself in Arkansas” contest runner up will receive two nights free lodging for two at an Arkansas State Park of his or her choice and either two nights free camping or a one-day free party barge rental at an Arkansas State Park of his or her choice. Certificates for these prizes will be honored for one year from the issue date, and reservations are required.

The categories - and corresponding deadlines - are:

 Arkansas Wildflowers - April 15, 2003

 Water in Arkansas - June 16, 2003

 Arkansas Cities and Towns - August 15, 2003

 Arkansas Festivals and Events - October 17, 2003

 Natural State Landscapes - December 17, 2003

The guidelines for each category are fairly loose and creativity is encouraged. For instance, one submitting a photo for "Water in Arkansas" could, of course, submit a picture of a waterfall or a lake view, or one could submit a water droplet on a leaf or a child playing in a lawn sprinkler.

Note: Photographs submitted for this contest will not be returned.