(Boone, NC) With the December 17th deadline fast approaching, organizers of the 8th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are pleased to announce the selection of this year’s competition judges. Photographers interested in submitting their work for consideration should visit http://www.appmtnphotocomp.org for competition rules and to register.

The jurors selected for the 8th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition have made a broad impact with their work. “Each year we look to select three photographers to jury the competition, each of whom can offer a unique perspective to the process” said Andrew Miller, Competition Director. “I am really excited about the backgrounds and accomplishments of this year’s jurors and that two of them have seen a great deal of success in the AMPC.”

Eric Heistand has won numerous photography awards, including top honors at last year’s Banff Mountain Photography Competition (Mountain Environment) and the National Geographic Great Outdoors Photo Competition. Eric’s work has also been a mainstay the last several years of the AMPC taking Best in Show with his image Splash or Trash in the 6th annual competition. Eric still says he is most proud of having his images hang in the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in front of his home town crowd.

Author of the photo blog Wayfaring Wanderer, Jessica Maceda posseses an unruly appetite for travel and unending passion for photography. Like Eric, Jessica’s work has also been a mainstay in the AMPC for the last several years and has been featured in the North Carolina Wildlife Photography Competition and publications including WNC magazine. Jessica currently works as a freelance portrait photographer and graphic designer in and around the High Country.

Matt Powell is a photographer and video producer currently on staff with Samaritan’s Purse- a job which takes him throughout the developing world documenting communities in need and in transition. His passion is using photography to bridge the gap between those in need and those who are willing to help, and his images raise private, charitable donations worldwide. Matt’s side work includes wedding photography and video production projects for the Boone & Watauga County Tourism Development Authority helping promote the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural beauty of our area.

All images submitted in accordance with competition guidelines will be eligible for preliminary judging. The first round of review will result in the selection of approximately forty-six images that will be exhibited at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the Campus of Appalachian State University, February 4th through June 4th, 2011. Once the exhibition is installed, the panel of judges will return to name one image as Best in Show and to select a winning image from each of the seven competition categories. The judges may also choose to acknowledge strong works in each of the categories by recognizing them with a Special Mention. Winning and Special Mention images will be announced the week of April 4th.

About Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition:
The AMPC is a partnership between Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs, The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. AMPC is made possible through the sponsorship of Virtual Blue Ridge, the premier online resource for the Blue Ridge Parkway and the generous support of Appalachian Voices; Bistro Roca, Inventive American Cuisine; Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters; Mast General Stores; and Peabody’s Wine and Beer Merchants. Keep up on Twitter – Follow BRPGuide using hashtag #appmtnphoto.

For press & media resource information, please visit:
https://www.virtualblueridge.com/contests/app-mtn-2008/media-and-press/

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