Here at Virtual Blue Ridge we believe competition makes us all strive to bring out our inner best. Life is full of challenges and complexities that require each of us to take that extra step, and we believe our culture is better for it. The Blue Ridge Parkway area can be viewed as a massive playground of sorts, where we participate in races, photography competitions, or writing contests. Through the spirit of competition, we are all able to contribute to a greater good that makes the Blue Ridge area so unique.
Current competitions related to the Blue Ridge area will be outlined here for you to enjoy and enter. We wish each and every one of you the best of luck as you strive to be the best!
 |
"Solitary Cloud," 2008 AMPC Best in Show
by
Dale King, Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas |
If there was a heaven for outdoor and nature photographers, it would have to be the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even if you hike the same trail every day, you will discover a new nook or treasure calling out to your lens as if it was waiting just for you.
Need inspiration? Check out the Photo Journal on Virtual Blue Ridge, or one of
our most recent projects at www.HighCountryPhotos.com. Photographers will surely be awed and challenged to out-shine previous year's winners in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition.
Or you may want to challenge yourself to learn new and different things about the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tired of shooting landscapes? Try wildflowers or waterfalls for more natural inspiration. The Blue Ridge Parkway Store has a wonderful assortment of photography guidebooks that any professional or amateur photographer will enjoy and learn from.
Status: Registration for the 2009 AMPC is now closed. Please stay tuned for details about the upcoming People's Choice Award! Don't forget about the AMPC blog as it gets updated frequently with announcements as well.
When the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition was first launched in 2004, it was hard for anyone to predict just how fast the competition would grow both in size and quality of work. With each passing year, the judging panel is faced with the difficult task of sifting through an ever-increasing field of talented submissions.
Appalachian State University's Outdoor Programs first began the contest as a way to raise funds for SOLE trips (Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions). One of Outdoor Program's main missions is to engage people to better understand their environment. The photography competition provided the perfect outlet for doing just that. Since then, Outdoor Programs has partnered with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, as well as other area businesses in an effort to provide more prizes to winners and to raise awareness of the AMPC to the general public.
The ultimate goal of the AMPC is to showcase people's interpretation of the unique culture, character, people, places and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachian region. Have fun with this contest, just don't forget to grab your camera bag!
More Details About the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition
Anyone who has ever had the fortunate opportunity to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway has their own story to tell. From childhood memories and interactions with people you love, to inspirations the natural beauty of the Parkway creates.
We invite Parkway visitors to Share the Journey®. Future contest winners and runners-up could be invited as special guest authors on the Blue Ridge Parkway Blog. So put your thinking caps on and sharpen your pencils.
Status: 2008 Competition Starts in Early May
Began in 1975, the Assault on Mt. Mitchell® has become one of the best known centuries in the country. Part of the ride is along the Blue Ridge Parkway and ends at the top of Mt. Mitchell State Park.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Virtual Blue Ridge are proud founders of this first-ever competition. We believe your experiences as a rider or observer will enrich the history of the Parkway and Mt. Mitchell State Park.
More Details About the Tales from the Assault on Mt. Mitchell® Storytelling Contest
