MEDIA RELEASE www.banffcentre.ca

April 12, 2001

Banff Mountain Photography Competition Call for Entries

Got a great photo on a mountain subject? Captured that perfect image of a mountain flower or landscape? Enter the Banff Mountain Photography Competition for a chance to win some great prizes and the opportunity to have your photo exhibited in locations across Canada and as far away as Italy.

The Banff Centre for Mountain Culture is seeking entries for its 6th annual Banff Mountain Photography Competition. Over $8000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. Amateur and professional photographers alike are invited to submit 35mm slides and/or prints (minimum size 8"x10", maximum size of 11"x14"). Entries must be received at the competition office in Banff no later than May 31, 2001.

The following prizes will be awarded:

Grand Prize

$1000 cash, and prizes from our sponsors, will be awarded to the photographer with the best overall photograph, regardless of category.

Category Prizes

$500 cash, and prizes from our sponsors, will be awarded to the winner in each of the following categories: Mountain Adventure; Mountain Landscape; Mountain Culture; Mountain Flora and Fauna; and Mountain Environment.

The winning photographs will be exhibited during the 26th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival and the 8th annual Banff Mountain Book Festival, all taking place October 29 to November 4, 2001. As well, the winning photos will remain on exhibition for 12 months as part of The Banff Centre's permanent collection, and will tour to a number of locations in North America and abroad.

The 2001 Banff Mountain Photography Competition is sponsored by Eagle Creek Travel Gear and the National Geographic Society.

The winning photographs from last year’s (2000) competition can be viewed at the following locations:

Banff – thru November 2001: Sally Borden lounge, The Banff Centre

Torino, Italy, April 2001: Museo Nazionale Della Montagna, via G. Giardino 39, Monte dei Cappuccini, 10131 Torino, Italy, April 2001: Museo Nazionale Della Montagna, via G. Giardino 39, Monte dei Cappuccini, 10131 Torino, Italy

Calgary, April 15–28 , 2001: Mountain Equipment Co-op, 830 - 10th Avenue SW,
Phone: 403-269-2420

Vancouver, May 6 to 12, 2001: Coast Mountain Sports, 2201 West 4th Avenue,
Phone: 604-731-6181

West Vancouver, May 14 to 20, 2001. Coast Mountain Sports, Park Royal Mall, South Side,
Phone: 604-926-6126

Toronto, TBA: Mountain Equipment Co-op, 400 King Street West, Phone: 416-340-2667 Mountain Equipment Co-op, 400 King Street West, Phone: 416-340-2667

The winning photos from last year's competition also appear on The Banff Centre for Mountain Culture website at www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture

Complete contest rules and entry forms for this year's competition are available:

1. At the above tour locations
2. For download from www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/ or
3. By mail/fax/e-mail:

Banff Mountain Photography Competition, Box 1020, 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1H5, fax: (403) 762-6277, e-mail: mountainculture@banffcentre.ca