Bring Your Camera to the Hocking Hills This Weekend!

4/15/09....Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park prepare information packets for photographers coming to the annual "Shoot the Hills" event this weekend....at the annual Friends' "Stuffing Party" at the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge. Just another "friendly" get together for the groups' volunteers. The Friends' mission is to raise funds the ensure the beauty of the Hocking Hills for decades and generatrions to come.....here's the official invitation to this year's event:

Hello Friends of the Hocking Hills!
We want to invite you to join us in support of our 8th annual photography weekend in the Hocking Hills. "Shoot the Hills" will be hosted by our organization from the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge on April 17, 18 and 19, 2009.
This popular event is one of our largest fundraisers for the organization, normally drawing photographers and non-photographers from at least six states. The highlight of the weekend is a 24-hour photo contest, but there will be variety of free programs scheduled over the weekend. Additionally, there will be photography vendors, craftsmen and artisans participating to offer any outdoor enthusiast a wealth of things to do during the weekend.
Entries for the digital photography competition must be taken between 1 p.m. on Friday (April 17) and 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 18). Digital contest categories are:
Wildlife, Flora, Landscape, Human Interest, Abstracts in Nature, and "Photographers Choice" (an open category). Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and advertisers, we are giving more than $3,000 in cash and prizes to winners! We will be naming contest winners on Sunday (April 18) at the conclusion of the 3-day event. This Awards Program is open to the public.

On Sunday (April 19) are also holding a fun Print Division contest. Photographic print entries will be collected between 11:00 a.m. on Friday (April 17) to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday (April 19). The winner of this division will be chosen by popular public vote, using "voting tickets," which will be sold 10 for $1. The Print Division winner will receive 50% of all the Print Division entry fees! Additionally, one print will be selected by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association that "best promotes tourism in Ohio's Hocking Hills Region." That print will receive a special recognition award and will be published in an upcoming issue of the Hocking Hills Visitors Guide.

You can pre-register for the photo contest at www.ShootTheHills.com, or in person at the Hocking Hills Tourism Association or the Hocking Hills State Park office by April 10. You may register the day of the event at the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge.

It is recommended that photographers in the contest arrive by 11:00 a.m. on Friday (April 17) for an informative orientation meeting (especially recommended for first-time participants).

For lodging and travel information, contact the Hocking Hills Tourism Association at 1 (800) HOCKING or visit www.1800hocking.com/ohiostateparkhockinghills.

For more information and rules for Shoot the Hills, visit our Shoot The Hills site. Join us this year at Shoot the Hills. Your support will help strengthen the event and our organization!

Sincerely, Jerry Jividen, President, Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park