Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

March 20, 2008 issue


Vote for Your Favorite Photo in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition

Online People’s Choice Voting Continues Through April 11

Forty-six images have been selected from the more than 860 submissions to the 2008 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitter.

The public can view and vote for their favorites among the 46 selected images currently in exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts by clicking to peoples-choice.virtualblueridge.com. Visitors to the exhibition can cast their votes while visiting the Turchin Center through a kiosk located in the Mezzanine Gallery. Voting will remain open both online and in the gallery through Friday, April 11. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a check for $350 provided by Footsloggers.

 “This is the second year we have offered the Footsloggers People’s Choice Award and it’s one my favorite parts of the competition because it allows the public to interact with the exhibition in a really fun way,” said Andrew Miller with Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs. “I definitely encourage people to make a trip to the Turchin Center to see the works in the gallery. For those not able to make the trip to the gallery, all the images can be viewed online and you can share your favorites with us,” Miller continued.

Outdoor Programs promoted the first Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition in 2004. “At Outdoor Programs we really strive to engage people with the environment, and photography requires that same commitment, that’s what makes AMPC a perfect fit with our overall mission,” said Miller.

In the years since the first competition, Outdoor Programs has partnered with the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in offering AMPC. “Every year since the first competition in 2004, we have been approached by businesses and organizations in our community excited about contributing to the competition. The level of excitement and support by these businesses has really allowed us to make AMPC one of the top photography exhibitions in the region,” said Miller. This year’s competition supporters include Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters, Bistro Roca and Antler’ Bar, Peabody’s Beer and Wine Merchants, Mast General Store and VirtualBlueRidge.com.

A portion of the proceeds from the annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are used to subsidize Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE) at Appalachian. SOLE trips are 21- to 55-day active educational adventures of discovery. Outdoor Programs partners with academic departments across campus and the Office of International Programs to provide students with unique and intense international and domestic adventure travel opportunities that are life-changing experiences. Students participating in SOLE trips spend extended time exploring rugged and remote wilderness and become immersed in new and exciting cultures all while gaining academic credit.

How To Vote for Your Favorite Photo

Voting for the People’s Choice award in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition continues through Friday, April 11. You can vote online or in person at the Turchin Center.

To vote online, click to peoples-choice.virtualblueridge.com. You have to register to vote, but then you’ll see all 46 images selected for the exhibition and can choose up to three as your faves.

To vote in person, view the images at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and then cast your ballot on the kiosk in the Mezzanine Gallery.

Be sure to vote. The winner of the People’s Choice award wins $350 from Footsloggers.