Spring is in the air, and that means it's time to enjoy the great outdoors. And don't forget to bring along your camera so you can enter the Colorado River Trail's "Discover True-Blue Texas Flickr Photo Contest." Both amateur and professional photographers are invited to show us how you would spend the perfect day on the Colorado River Trail. Share your best photos of people enjoying the fun things to do along the Colorado River Trail, and get a chance to win exciting prizes.

Entering the contest is easy! Starting May 1 enter through Flickr, an online photo-sharing service, and add your contest entries to the Colorado River Trail group. Enter as many photos as you'd like (three entries per registration). This year, we are asking people to submit photos that show us how they would spend a perfect day on the Colorado River Trail. Here are some suggestions to get you thinking:

• Outdoor activities like camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing/kayaking, boating, and fishing.
• Festivals and events like fairs, rodeos, carnivals, live music, and concerts.
• Attractions and activities such as wineries, museums, historic sites, shopping, and entertainment.

Photo Entry Deadline: May 18

Here's How to Enter:

1. Log in - Set up a FREE Flickr account.
2. Upload - Once you have logged in, upload the photos you want to enter in the contest to your account. Do this by clicking on "Upload" in the menu bar at the top of the page. Then just follow the prompts.
3. Join - To enter the contest, you must join the Colorado River Trail group. If you aren't already a member, join by clicking "Join?" on the group's homepage.
4. Add - From your photo stream, select the photo(s) you wish to enter in the contest. To add your photo to the Colorado River Trail photo pool, use the "Add to a group" function in the "Actions" drop-down menu above the image.
5. Tag it! - Once added to the group, you'll need to add two tags to each photo.
   • First, tag them with CRTContest12 using the "tag" feature in the right-hand column of the individual photo's page. This identifies your photo as a contest entry and distinguishes it from existing photos in the group.
   • Then, be sure to tag them with the location of where the picture was taken so we can ensure that it is in one of the 11 counties of the Colorado River Trail region in Texas.
6. Register - Use the form below to get signed up.

Judging:

A team of LCRA staff members with backgrounds in photography, communications, parks, outdoor recreation and tourism will judge the contest. The team will select 10 finalists from all contest submissions. Selections will be made based upon how well the photo meets the following criteria:

1. Relevancy - Does the photo feature people doing one of the suggested (or related) activities? Is the activity something that people can easily see or do on the Colorado River Trail?
2. Composition & Quality - Are the items in the photo arranged well? Is the photo taken from a good angle or do they feature an interesting perspective? Is it a good quality image (i.e., resolution, focus, etc.)?
3. Emotion - Does the photo elicit an emotion from the viewer?
4. Overall Rating - Does the photo grab your attention and hold it? Is there a "wow" factor?

The finalists will be notified of their status via email by May 21. Then we'll need a little help from you!

You Be the Judge. You will have the chance to help us choose the four winners by voting on your favorites from the 10 finalists selected by our judging team. Voting will be open May 22 through 24. You'll have three days to pick your favorite! The grand prize winner will be announced no later than May 25.

Prizes:

Grand Prize - Lake Travis Getaway
This year the grand prize is a package from the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce. The lucky winner will enjoy Texas' version of paradise on the water, in the Great Outdoors, or just getting away from it all. The package includes:

• 2-night stay with breakfast at the Lakeway Resort and Spa
• $100 gift certificate from Steiner Ranch Steakhouse
• Round of golf for four at Flintrock Falls
• $100 gift certificate from Spa at the Lake

2nd Place - Play Bastrop County Getaway
The 2nd place winner will discover what it means to PlayBastropCo when they receive this prize package from Bastrop County. Bastrop County is open for play. Come join the fun. The prize package includes:

• From the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce
  
  • One night at the Katy House Bed and Breakfast for two
  • DVD of a movie filmed in Smithville
  • Smithville cooler (6-pack size)
• From the Elgin Chamber of Commerce
  
  • $50 gift certificate from Southside Market & Barbecue
  • Package of items from Elgin's Hogeye Festival and Western Days
• From the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation
  
  • 6-mile kayak trip for two from Rising Phoenix Adventures
  • $25 gift certificate from Maxine's on Main
• From the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce
  
  • Gift basket of items from Cripple Creek & Company
  • $20 gift certificate from Baxter's on Main

Other Prizes
The 3rd through 5th place winners will receive one of the following:

• Light 'O the Moon Float Trip on the beautiful Colorado River, courtesy of LCRA's McKinney Roughs Nature Park, or
• Annual pass to LCRA's Lake Travis recreation areas

Contest Rules:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
• You must be the creator of any image you submit, and you must have the right to submit any image that you enter into the contest. You must also have the right to grant the license detailed in the following section.
• You will retain all rights to the photos you submit, but you agree to grant LCRA/Colorado River Trail a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive right to use the photo in its various publications, either print or online (including social media). We will gladly credit you as the photographer on any photo that we use.
• Enter as many photos as you wish (up to three per registration). No photos will be accepted as contest entries after May 18, 2012. You are still welcome to upload your photos from the Colorado River Trail to the Flickr group anytime.
• To be considered as an entry in the contest, your photo must be tagged with CRTContest12 and the photo's location in one of the 11 counties on the Colorado River Trail in Texas. LCRA/Colorado River Trail reserves the right to eliminate and/or delete submissions to our Flickr group (and therefore the contest) displaying content we deem to be inappropriate or offensive without prior warning.
• In addition to the rules listed above, you agree to abide by all of Flickr's community guidelines.
• LCRA is not responsible for the quality, condition, availability, description or non-delivery of any donated prizes.

FAQs:

How many photos can I submit?
Contest entries are not limited. Submit as many photos as you like. You may enter up to three photos per contest registration. Simply complete the registration form again to enter more than three photos in the contest.

What kind of photos are you looking for?
Photos should illustrate your idea of a perfect day on the Colorado River Trail. We love pictures that feature people doing something and having fun! They can include:

• Outdoor activities like hiking, camping, mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, horseback riding, boating, and fishing.
• Festivals and events like fairs, rodeos, carnivals, live music, and concerts.
• Attractions and activities such as wineries, museums, historic sites, shopping, and entertainment.

Can I enter photos that were taken before the contest's start date?
Yes. You can enter any photo you have taken along the Colorado River Trail in Texas. You can even enter photos that are already in our Flickr group - just be sure to tag them with "CRTContest12".

Can I email my photos to enter the contest?
No, sorry. The only way to enter the contest is to submit your photos to the Colorado River Trail group on Flickr, and tag them with CRTContest12 and the photo's location.

Do I have to live in Texas to enter?
No, anyone can enter - and from any location. However the prizes will include experiences in the Colorado River Trail region of Texas, but not transportation to or from the locations.

Are there any restrictions on photos I enter?
The only photos that are restricted are those to which you do not own the rights, photos that were not taken on the Colorado River Trail, photos that are not tagged correctly, and photos that are deemed inappropriate or offensive by LCRA staff.

How will I know if I won?
LCRA staff will notify the finalists and the overall winners via email by May 21. The grand prize winner will be notified via email following the public voting on May 25. Photos from the four finalists and the overall winner will be featured on the photo contest website www.lcra.org/photocontest.

How can I find out more about the Colorado River Trail?
Find out all about True-Blue Texas by visiting the Colorado River Trail web site, or connecting with us on Facebook, Twitter, our blog, and on Foursquare.