Instagram posts score free Calif. trip for Indy man

The fact that Juan Flores grew up about 10 minutes from the Indiana Dunes likely had a huge impact on where he has recently been: specifically, somewhere shooting photos for his 46,000 Instagram followers in Yosemite National Park.

The Indianapolis resident was one of eight winners selected by the National Park Foundation for the Find Your Park Expedition, a weeklong trip through national parks in the San Francisco area. Flores, 28, left for California on Sept. 24 to spend the week taking photos of different sites, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

"I just love to learn information, and I also like to expel that information out so people become more knowledgeable," he said.

Flores and the seven other winners were selected from about 400 applicants who were chosen for their social media presence and their engagement with their following, National Park Foundation spokeswoman Alanna Sobel said.

"We're looking for someone beyond the pure numbers," she said. "We want someone who’s going to engage in a conversation and inspire more conversation."

Find Your Park, or Encuentra Tu Parque, began in 2013 as a way to increase interest in the country's national parks among Hispanics. Last year, the foundation opened up the expedition to all racially and ethnically diverse applicants, as well as to members of the LGBT community.

"The purpose of the expedition is that by taking these social media influencers on a national park adventure, it'll bring the parks to everyone," Sobel said. "One of the things we’re trying to do is help people realize that the parks are much more than trees and grass."

Each expedition recipient received an all-expenses-paid trip to California and activewear from REI and Columbia to help along the trek.

Narrowing the field to about a dozen semifinalists wasn't easy for the foundation, Sobel  said.

"It's incredibly fun to read about their stories," she said. "Parks are very, very personal, and people experience them in different and unique ways. And all of those ways are valid."

The winners will be documenting the expedition using the hashtag #FYPx on their social media platform of choice, but generally on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — Flores' favorite medium.

"He's done a lot of work about historic architecture in Indiana," Sobel said. "He's an incredible storyteller."

Flores, the social media and community manager for UsedPhotoPro Downtown, began shooting photos when he was in high school  but didn't get serious about it until college.

"As time went by, my eye and how I wanted to shoot things evolved," he said. "Nature, the outdoors, is a huge driving force as to how I go about shooting the things that I do."

Flores had never been to San Francisco and is planning to stay out there an extra day to explore after the expedition.

He has a more personal goal with the National Parks Foundation once he is home: to raise awareness through his social media about the three national historic sites in Indiana.

"There are some beautiful parks in Indiana," he said. "We're not these flyover states. We actually do have these great things. You can get to a national landmark site in a very short distance."

The story behind his photos is important, too, he says. When he shoots photos for Instagram using his Sony camera — or sometimes his iPhone — he also does research and reporting to learn more about his subjects. He also is an active member and moderator of Indy's group for Instagram enthusiasts, @IgersIndy.

"I know I'm not the best photographer out there," he said. "But I know I try my best to showcase whatever I can in the best way possible."

Follow Flores' trip on Instagram.

Call IndyStar reporter Amy Bartner at (317) 444-6752.  Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.