A Winner of a Weekend in the Hocking Hills for The Friends of Hocking Hills State Park

It was a simply glorious weekend for "Shooting the Hills"....southeast Ohio's famous Hocking Hills Region, that is, with about 200 photographers from six states hiking with their gear through the scenic trails, caves, hollows, meadows and other attractions that have drawn visitors from across the country for decades. In this year's eighth Annual "Shoot the Hills" competition, The Friends of the Hocking Hills again awarded thousands of dollars in prizes to the winning shots in both Digital RAW/SLR and Point-and-Shoot divisions. The prize money was generated from the over $16,000 in sponsorships from over 40 businesses and organizations.

Now also part of this special event is "Shoppe the Hills," with sponsors displaying their art and wares in the Hocking Hills State Park Dining Lodge. In addition to doing a bit of browsing, non-photographers had the opportunity to win door prizes themselves while also voting for the "People's Choice" Award photograph...to Christopher Henschen. The "Photographer's Choice" Award went to Matt Studebaker.

Hocking Hills Tourism Association Executive Director, Karen Raymore, picked winners for the "Spirit of the Hills" Award....Christopher Henschen, Michele Black, and Rob Taylor.

In the five RAW categories, five professional photographers selected the winners: Abstract - David Nicely; Flora - Stacy Fenner; Human Interest - Roger Heil; Landscape - Roger Heil; Wildlife - Matthew Studebaker. The Friends extend a sincere thanks to judges Jim Crotty, Karl J. Klein, Susie Klein, Katie Tuttle, and Gary Walker....along with the many volunteers who kept things running smoothly from Friday morning through Sunday evening at the Hocking Hills State Park Dining Lodge.

In the digital pont-and-shoot category, Brent Mackey won the grand prize. Other point-and-shoot winners were: Abstract - John Grogan; Flora - Kari LaBello; Human Interest - Mike Rosa; Landscape - Jenny Hally; Wildlife - Dava Garcia.

Junior Division Award winners were Brookelyn Winters, Olivia Johnson, and Halle Harlau.

The Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, an entirely volunteer group, holds events each year to raise funds that will help ensure the natural beauty of the park areas for generations to come. Like other "Friends" groups around the state, the overall mission is to grow relations between the parks and public through both new and ongoing educations and conservation programs.

The Friends' next big event will be the Hocking Hills 3rd Annual Poker Run, May 16.

copyright 2009; Doug & Karen Parker, ikarensell Enterprises, Inc. http://ikarensell.com