The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) will be hosting an online photography contest through the fall to promote the beautiful surroundings of Cumberland County. The contest will be open to anybody wanting to enter.

Capture Cumberland County is a special photo contest that provides an opportunity for the casual and serious photographer alike to capture the natural beauty, unique character, unparalleled history, vibrant culture and hometown feeling that combine to make the greater Fayetteville area one of America's true treasures.

There is no residency requirement for the contest. It is open to any amateur or professional photographer including the folks who are just visiting. Photos must have been taken in Cumberland County after January 1, 2011.

“We are not only lucky to have such a beautiful county, but to have so much talent within it,” says John Meroski, FACVB President & CEO.  “This contest is a great way to showcase all the beautiful and wonderful attractions that we have surrounding Fayetteville.”  

Contestants will be able to submit photos to the FACVB via email (contest@visitfayettevillenc.com) that fall into four categories:

• Landscape: What makes Cumberland County unique? What makes this place beautiful? The country side of Gray’s Creek? A beautiful day at Cypress Lakes Golf Course in Hope Mills? Capture the scenery and Cumberland County's unique sites at their best!
• Events: With something for everyone in Cumberland County, there is always fun just around the corner. Have a great photo from the Dogwood or International Folk Festival? A unique shot from the Sandhills Farmer’s Market in Spring Lake? We would love to see it.
• Architecture: The story of the development of this historical area can be told through the structures built long ago, but still stand proudly today. Cumberland County is full of these structures built during the 1780s and many more from the 1800s and early 1900s. Show us your favorites!
• Patriotic: The Fayetteville area is a place where History, Heroes and a Hometown feeling bestow unique opportunities. As home to Fort Bragg, we are full of patriotic pride! Show us what patriotism means to you.

Entries will be uploaded to the FACVB’s Pinterest page where Pinterest users can “like” their favorite photos. First, second and third place winners will be announced in each category, and the four first place winners will battle it out for Grand Prize.

Winners will receive a variety of prizes from local restaurants and attractions within Cumberland County, including cash prizes, dinner certificates to Huske Hardware, show tickets to the Gilbert Theater, an annual pass to the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, golf passes to courses like Gates Four and Bayonet at Puppy Creek, passes to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum simulator and theater, passes to ZipQuest, VIP passes to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, movie tickets to Millstone Theatres and other giveaways from the Fayetteville Observer and the FACVB.

The grand prize winner will receive $300 in cash and a night’s stay at Home2 Suites in Fayetteville, among other prizes highlighting the community. Participants will also have to opportunity to have their work seen in print for future marketing efforts by the FACVB.

Submissions will be accepted from Monday, October 22^nd, 2012 to Friday, November 9th, 2012. The first round of voting will start on Monday, November 12^th, 2012. Individuals wanting to participate can visit http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/photocontest.html for all the information on the contest including dates on voting periods as well as to download all necessary documents requires for the contest. All individuals must submit a photography release form and participants under the age of 18 must submit a parental consent. Official flyer available to use for promotion is available by clicking here.