The Banff Centre Logo

MEDIA RELEASEwww.banffcentre.ca
September 10, 2003

Photo of Yukon Mountains at Sunset Wins 2003 Banff Mountain Photography Competition

A magically lit mountain photograph of a fall sunset in the Yukon has taken first prize in the 2003 Banff Mountain Photography Competition. Fritz Mueller of Whitehorse, Yukon Territories was awarded the Grand Prize for his photo Autumn Sunset in the Heart of Tombstone, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon.

Mueller’s image topped an impressive collection of more than 3,300 photographs from 31 countries submitted in the eighth annual competition. The competition is presented by National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers, and sponsored by Chevy Avalanche.

"Tombstone is an iconic landscape and one of my favourite wilderness areas," says Mueller, a wildlife biologist and nature photographer based in Whitehorse, Yukon. "It’s a new Yukon park established with the local First Nation, though there’s still controversy over unresolved mineral claims."

"The light can be magical and the landscape haunting, yet we waited in our tent for six days in rain, snow, and fog until shafts of light finally began to penetrate the gloomy skies. This image was made with a medium-format panorama camera: heavy to haul in the backcountry, but well worth the effort at moments like this."

The 2003 Banff Mountain Photography Competition jury included Alec Pytlowany, Jerry Kobalenko, and Brad Wrobleski of Alberta. In addition to the Grand Prize, the jury chose winners in five subject categories. Another 10 photographs received special mention. Winners include:

GRAND PRIZE

Fritz Mueller of Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada took the Grand Prize for his photo Autumn Sunset in the Heart of Tombstone, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon. Mueller wins: $1000 (CAD), plus prizes from National Geographic, Dunham Bootmakers, and Chevy Avalanche.

CATEGORY PRIZES

The following photographers won category prizes and will each receive: $500 (CAD), plus prizes from National Geographic, Dunham Bootmakers, and Chevy Avalanche

  • Best Photo – Mountain Adventure: Have a Good Flight, Rainer Eder, Zürich, Switzerland
  • Best Photo – Mountain Culture: SkiJ-CH, François Portmann, New York City, New York, USA
  • Best Photo – Mountain Environment: Davos-II, François Portmann, New York City, New York, USA
  • Best Photo – Mountain Flora and Fauna: Big Leaf Maple: Leaves and Reflection, Jeff Friesen, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
  • Best Photo – Mountain Landscape: Mountain Goats and Glaciers, Kluane National Park, Yukon, Fritz Mueller, Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada

SPECIAL MENTIONS

In addition, each of the following photographers received Special Mentions:

  • Chris Atkinson of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada for Alister King, Bouldering, Squamish, B.C.
  • Gary Brettnacher of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada for Powder Eights
  • Keoki Flagg of Olympic Valley, California, USA for B & W Powder Series #13
  • Paul Harris of Harrogate, UK for Annual Run to the Summit of Ben Nevis, Scotland, UK
  • John G. Kelley of Falmouth, Maine, USA for Foothill
  • Cameron Lawson of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA for John Varco climbing in Chamonix, France
  • Sergey Melnikoff of Tashkent City, Uzbekistan for Morning over South China
  • Nicole Morgenthau of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA for Potato Farmers, Huaraz, Peru
  • Dan Rafla of Banff, Alberta, Canada for Fields of Gold
  • Kennan Ward of Santa Cruz, California, USA for Wild Grey Wolf, Denali National Park, Alaska

The Banff Mountain Photography Competition is a program of Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre. Winning photos will be unveiled in Banff during the Banff Mountain Festivals (November 5 - 9, 2003). The photos will remain on display through to October 2004 at The Banff Centre and will be exhibited at select locations in North America and abroad.
Winning photos can be viewed at www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture

Electronic files of the winning photos are available for download at www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/ftp/

Published photos must include a copyright symbol with the photographer's name, the photograph's title and the prize title and competition name (e.g "Best Photo, Mountain Culture, Banff Mountain Photography Competition 2003"). This information must appear directly above, under or beside the photograph. Failure to display the correct photo credit with the photograph may result in the user's liability for the full commercial value of photograph.

Media Contact:

For more information contact:
Shawn Hunter, Marketing & Communications Manager
Mountain Culture, The Banff Centre
Box 1020, Banff, Alberta T1L 1H5, Canada
phone: 403-762-6446 fax: 403-762-6277

email: shawn_hunter@banffcentre.ca
www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture

The eighth annual Banff Mountain Photography Competition is presented by National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers, and sponsored by Chevy Avalanche.

The Banff Centre is Canada’s centre for creative excellence in the arts, leadership development, mountain culture, and conferences. Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre promotes understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share – and find inspiration in – mountain experiences, ideas and visions.