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Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition Announces Jurors for 15th Annual Competition

The 15th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) received over 1,000 submissions this year, a near record of images submitted. “We were thrilled with the number of submissions this year” states AMPC organizer Rich Campbell.

“We had fantastic participation, and now the fun part begins. Jurors will begin the process of going through every image, and narrowing the number of images to approximately 50 which will be selected for the exhibition this year which runs from March 2 – June 2, 2018 in the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.” The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition will showcase images in numerous categories including winning images with over $4,000 in cash and prizes.

A partnership between Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, and Virtual Blue Ridge, AMPC celebrates the unique people, places, and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians and attracts entries from across the United States. The AMPC is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Mast General Store, who are providing gift certificates for all category award winners this year. The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition has grown into one the region’s most prestigious photography competitions with 1,082 submissions this year and will be viewed in person by an estimated 8,000 people at the Turchin Center for Visual Arts. Supporters of the AMPC include: Appalachian Voices, Bistro Roca, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Footsloggers, Nikon, Peabody’s, Smoky Mountain Living, and Stick Boy Bread Company.

The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition will culminate in a professionally curated exhibition, which will be available to the public from March 2 to June 2, 2018 in the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. All of the images are selected by a panel of jurors who have a professional background in photography and love for the natural environment. The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is pleased to announce the jurors for the 15th annual competition as Garner Dewey, Craig Dillenbeck, and Cheryl Zibisky.

Dr. Garner Dewey has been at Appalachian State University since 2003 when he was hired as a faculty member in the Industrial Drafting and Design program (now Industrial Design). Prior to his arrival at ASU, he was at the University of Georgia where he completed his PhD. In addition to being an accomplished photographer and 3D modeler here in Boone, Dr. Dewey has taught photography courses on photography, art and design in his home country of Costa Rica, as well as in Austria, Cuba and Spain. Since 2013 he has served as the QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) Director on Global Learning and this October he is also serving as the Interim Associate Dean for the College of Fine and Applied Arts. His two most recent exhibitions took place at the Blowing Rock and History Museum where he displayed photographs from Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Washington DC. He is married and has two sons.

Craig joined the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in 2015 as Lead Installer and Preparator. He works closely with curator, Mary Anne Redding, and often works directly with artists represented at the Turchin Center and brings his special talents to insure all artwork is exhibited beautifully and effectively. Craig received his B.S. in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Technical Photography from Appalachian State University in 2005. He continues to make photographs, primarily in the outdoor lifestyle arena — and also having the pleasure of working as a cameraman for a segment of Flatlander Films’ documentary Frost, telling the story of legendary rock-climber, photographer and environmental activist, Tom Frost. The film is in post-production and will premiere in 2018.

Born in Detroit, but raised in the south, Cheryl had 10 great years in Brooklyn, New York. While in New York she enjoyed capturing the colorful urban life that surrounded her. She discovered the love of food while photographing new restaurants for New York Magazine. Her escapes from the city included train rides to Montauk or up the Hudson Valley to fly fish. Now, back in the south, she finds inspiration while hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Zibisky earned her MFA in Photography in January 2017 from New Hampshire Institute of Art. She has been teaching photography in the Commercial Photography Program at Appalachian State University for past six years while also working as a commercial photographer in addition to her artistic practice. Her work has been exhibited in approximately 15 group shows and one solo show. Recent work has been shown in “Art Through the Lens International Juried Photography Exhibition”, “Center Forward” at The Center for Fine Art Photography and “New River Art Biennial 2017” at the Floyd Center for the Arts. Her commercial work has been published in over 20 different national magazines, as well as a handful of local and regional publications. In October 2016, her work was featured on the cover of Southern Living. Her fine art work can be found here: www.cherylzibisky.wixsite.com/artist  and her commercial work may be viewed at www.cherylzibisky.com

“We are thrilled to announce our jurors this year. They have a very broad background in photography and love for the outdoors and will provide a strong and varied perspective from which to view the images,” states AMPC competition organizer, Rich Campbell. “We are excited to have these individuals be a part of the AMPC who will dedicate their time, talent, and expertise to the competition this year.”

“We are also excited about continuing our popular initiative this year where everyone who submits an image to the AMPC will have the opportunity to register for a large number of Portfolio Review Sessions with jurors, professional photographers, and others in the photography industry” states Campbell. “This initiative is designed to be an informative and educational opportunity made available, free of charge, for as many people as possible who have submitted images to the AMPC this year.”

The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition offers numerous categories that will be chosen as winners with over $4,000 in cash and prizes. Jurors Garner Dewey, Craig Dillenbeck, and Cheryl Zibisky will review all entries and narrow them down to approximately fifty images that will be displayed in exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, March 2 to June 2, 2018. From those images, the judges will select the final winners which will be showcased during the exhibition and at the 22nd annual Banff Film Festival March 23 and 24, 2018.

For more information about this photography competition, please visit www.appmtnphotocomp.org, or call Outdoor Programs at 828.262.2475.

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 Virtual Blue Ridge. AMPC is made possible through the sponsorship of Mast General Store. AMPC receives generous support from Appalachian Voices; Bistro Roca, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Inventive American Cuisine; Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters; Nikon; Peabody’s Wine and Beer Merchants; Smoky Mountain Living; and Stick Boy Bread Company. For more information about this photography competition, please visit www.appmtnphotocomp.org, or call Outdoor Programs at 828.262.2475.

Craig Dillenbeck
Garner Dewey
Zibisky