This is TEXAS !!!

"This is Texas" photo contest is now over. Many entries were submitted, and the judges were very hard pressed to bring one photo to the top which states, without apology, "THIS IS TEXAS!"

How does Texas look to you?

* Did the photos reflect the theme "This is Texas"? - some entries included scenery, buildings, people or wildlife. The "This is Texas" theme was the first criteria used as a judging point.

* As this was a photo contest, the second criteria used: "Was the photo composed in an artistic manner?" Many excellent photos were submitted, which added to the difficulty in judging.

* The third criteria used was the overall quality of the photo. Most photos were excellent in quality.

Pictures that relate to the Masonic Fraternity were encouraged, but Masonic reference was not necessary, and carried no weight in the judging.

The contest was open to all Texas Masons or members of the Eastern Star in Texas. Photos from non-members were also displayed, but were not be included in the judging.

Judges for this contest were W:. Don Comedy (Grand Photographer); Bro. Jerry Smith (Past Grand Photographer); Bro. J. Darrell Kirkley (professional videographer and photographer); Bro. Loyd Addy (Webmaster) of the Texas History Committee, and Bro. Dick Brown (Chairman) of the Texas History Committee.

And the WINNERS!

First Place:
The winner of the contest, at 93.5 points, was JASON REES of
GRAHAM LODGE NO. 20 for his interesting work in black and white and silhouettes.
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/page23.php
.
Runner-Up:
Runner up, with a score of 92.25, was JAMES TALBOT of MORTON LODGE No. 72 for his work in lighting, colors and contrasts.
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/Talbot-pg1.php

Honorable Mentions include:

John C. Chamberlin, PM, Kerrville Lodge No. 697 with a score of 88.5
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/Chamberlin.php
.

Paul D. Underwood, Johnson City Lodge No. 561, with a score of 85.25, "New Era"
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/page11.php
.

Greg Guest, Chalk Mountain Lodge No. 894, with a score of 84.5
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/Guest-pg3.php
.

Dylan Santiso, Point Isabel Lodge No. 33, with a score of 84.5
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/TX_Photos/Santiso.php


The Judges thank you for your interest and participation in our "This is Texas!" photo contest.


Click Here to see a SLIDE SHOW of all photos submitted

CONTESTANTS
(Click on Contestant's Name to view photos)

W.J. Nixon Lodge #421
Longview Lodge #404
Burleson Lodge #649
Forrest Lodge #19
Johnson City Lodge #561
Austin Lodge #12
Graham Lodge #20
A. C. Garrett Lodge #1216
Victory Lodge #1168
East Fork Lodge #650
Morton Lodge #72
Cedar Creek Lake Lodge #1431
Dawson Lodge #155
Midlothian Lodge #584
H.A. McFarland Lodge #1338
Jerry Jones Melrose Lodge #1294
Blake Bowden Gonzales Lodge #30
Larry Kane Fabens Lodge #1202
Hugh R. (Buz) Craft Wills Point Lodge #422
John C. Chamberlin Kerrville Lodge #697
K. E. Price Alvord Lodge #512
Dave R. Summers AASR Valley of Dallas
Pete Martinez Texas Lodge of Research
Wil Keys Boyd Lodge #479
Henry Mangum Jr. Corpus Christi Lodge #189
Jim McCormick Cedar Bayou Lodge #321
G. W. Welch Noland's River Lodge #453
Cecil W. Harper White Settlement Lodge #1372
Greg Guest Chalk Mountain Lodge #894
John Tolbert San Marcos Lodge #342
Jim E. Talley Lake Jackson Lodge #1371
Don Swanner Fate Lodge #802
George Wolfe III Crawford Lodge #585
Daniel Weaver Brady Lodge #628
Fredric M. Silver John L. Degrazier Lodge #1349
Mike Welch Gary Lodge #1101
Dylan Santiso Point Isabel Lodge #33
Michael Warren Maud Lodge #853
Rob Kyker Tannehill Lodge #52
David Mather South Houston Lodge #1295
Joseph R. Wallace Blazing Star Lodge #413
James K. Turner Goose Creek Lodge #1192
David LaRo Henry Thomas Lodge #278
Chris Hogg Coahoma Lodge #992
Gerald Harris District Instructor 31-A
Frank Kliiger Joe Werner Lodge #553
Elizabeth (Betsey) Harrison Woodville Chapter #462, OES
Al Jones Lake Worth Lodge #1410
Abner "Abb" Kestler Kendall Lodge #897
Rick Pena Pasadena Lodge #1155
James Talbot Morton Lodge #72
Neal Addy Haltom City-Riverside Lodge #1331
George Wolfe Crawford Lodge #585
Grover White Venus Lodge #804
Michael A. Mitchell Wichita Lodge No. 635
James Harrell League City Lodge No. 1053
John "Corky" Dalt Waller Lodge No. 808
Karry L. Hill, Wife of Dan T. Hill Richardson Lodge No. 1214
Ron Roberts Canyon Lake Lodge No. 1425
John W. Limmer Albany Lodge No. 482
Gary Rooney Duck Creek Lodge No. 1419
Jim Hollis Buda Lodge No. 800
John Whitmore Palmer Lodge No. 459
J. Robert Rodriguez Patterson Lodge No. 1177
Terry Adams Alvin Lodge No. 762
J. Paul Tittsworth Sampson Lodge No. 231

Non-Masonic Entries
Khimberly Caton
Lacy Lakeview, Texas
Kristi Thayer Judson, Texas

JUDGES' PHOTOS

Don Comedy, Grand Photographer (2009), Orient Lodge #905
Jerry Smith, Grand Photographer (2008), S.B. Mosser Lodge #912
Frank Richard Brown, Knox-Corinthian Lodge #851
J. Darrell Kirkley, Highland Park Lodge #1150