National Park Service seeking photos for contest
The National Park Service is inviting amateur photographers to submit pictures taken at national parks as part of the "Share the Experience" photo contest.
The contest runs through December 31. Participants can upload photos taken at any of the nation's 393 national parks by visiting the website ShareTheExperience.org, or by uploading photos to the contest website through Facebook, Flickr and Shutterfly.
"We always tell people in parks to take only pictures and leave only footprints," said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "Our annual photo contest is a great reason to get outside and capture the incredible places preserved in our national parks."
The winning photograph will appear on a 2012 America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
In addition, the winner will receive a four-night stay at their favorite park, a $1,800 Olympus camera package and a 2012 pass to the national parks and other federal lands.
Second, third and fourth place winners, as well as 10 honorable mention winners, will also receive prizes.
Photography is very much about seeing," said National Park Service director Jonathan Jarvis. "Head to a national park and really see it - through the lens of your camera."