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 asked photographers to share photos that represent what Big Thicket means to them. We selected finalists and then asked the public to vote for their favorite. See the winning photo and runners-up below!
Grand Prize Winner: Drops of Dew
Drops of Dew
Andrew Shirey
Photographer: Andrew Shirey Location:Sundew Trail, Hickory Creek Savannah Unit
Meet Grand Prize Winner, Andrew Shirey
Andrew Shirey
“I am a passionate nature photographer who loves sharing the beauty of the natural world with others through my lens, allowing them to experience it as I do. As an avid outdoors enthusiast, I enjoy spending as much time as possible in nature, especially with my wife and our 10-month-old son.”
“I was inspired to visit Big Thicket primarily due to my love for the National Park Service and because this year marks the 50th anniversary of this remarkable place. Additionally, it was one of the few remaining parks in Texas that I still needed to check off my list of over 430 national parks. One of my main goals was to photograph the sundews, a fascinating carnivorous plant. These plants are truly amazing, especially considering their size. The one I photographed was about the size of a dime, requiring a macro lens to capture its intricate details.”
Andrew's photo will be featured as the banner image on Big Thicket's Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts.
2nd Place: Fall on Franklin Lake
Fall on Franklin Lake
Michelle Esclovon
Photographer: Michelle Esclovon Location:Franklin Lake, Neches Bottom & Jack Gore Baygall Unit
“Fall is a magical time in the Big Thicket providing relief from the sweltering heat and humidity of summer. It brings the jewel tones to the leaves of the trees and when on the backwaters of the Big Thicket it truly makes you realize how special the thicket truly is. Taken on Franklin Lake, October 2022.”
“Solitude is one of the best kept secrets of the thicket and one of my favorites. You can spend hours and never see another person. A true immersion in what nature has to offer and take it all in. Taken on Pine Island Bayou, September 2019.”
“This photo was taken at the Edgewater Day-Use Area in Beaumont, TX, on a weekday outing hike in 2018. The light of the sun was shining through the cypress trees, the clouds and reflecting on the water in the shallow bog.”
“This patient coastal plains toad was found in a sphagnum bog within the Canyonlands Unit of the preserve. I was photographing for Eastfield College’s summer undergraduate field research program in 2009 alongside a number of taxonomists of various specialties.”
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 (extended until September 14, 2024).
If selected as a winning image, the entrant must be able to provide the highest resolution version of the image possible via email.
