July 4 Twins with Hot Shot Photo Contest

29 Jun July 4 Twins with Hot Shot Photo Contest

“Cameras don’t take great pictures. Artists take great pictures. And no two artists see the same things the same way,” photographer and social critic Nan Goldin

Rocking in the Free World, Mary Kenez, 1st place, 2014

Daniel Tucker founded Telluride’s Ah Haa School for the Arts in 1991 based on the idea that we are all creative. All it takes is the right place, the right time, and the right circumstances for a person to channel his inner Picasso – or Ansel Adams.

Right place: San Miguel County.

Right time: All day on the Fourth of July.

Right circumstances: The upcoming “Hot Shot Photo Contest.”

Little American Firecracker, Laine Montgomery, 3rd place, 2014

Ah Haa, the Nugget Building, the Telluride Volunteer Fire Department, and Telluride Inside… and Out, event sponsors, invite you to take your best shot and then enter it into the 6th annual Hot Shot Photo Contest. It’s all about building community one person, one image, at a time.

And to celebrate its 6th year of making lasting memories, the sponsors of Hot Shot decided to up the ante: the first place award was $500, but is now $1,000. 

“We wanted to do something special to commemorate year 6,” explained Katrine Formby who came up with the free photo contest idea in 2010. “On top of increasing the award for first prize and in addition to all cash prizes, this year we will also be giving all winners 20 U.S. Postage Stamps printed using their winning image for the stamp.” 

Cash prizes as follows:

1st Prize:  $1,000

2nd Prize:    $300

3rd Prize:     $100

15 Honorable Mention Winners:  $50 each

Dress Up & Parade, by Claire Jacob, Honorable Mention,

Rules for the Hot Shot July 4th Photo Contest are as follows:

• Photos must be taken on July 4, 2015

• Photos must be taken in San Miguel County.

• Participants submit ONE original photo to www.TellurideHotShotPhotoContest.com by noon on July 5, 2015.

• All entries must include name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the photographer, as well as the title of the photograph. Any photos received after the deadline will not be eligible for prizes.

• Winners will be announced on July 6th at www.tellurideinside.com. 

Explosions in the Sky, Jacob Bomersback, 2nd Place, 2014

 “We are looking for the most memorable photo that captures the spirit of July 4th in San Miguel County, Colorado,” says Ah Haa director, Judy Kohin. “We invite visitors, residents, amateur photographers, hobby photographers, professional photographers, and children to submit one photo taken on July 4, 2015 anywhere in San Miguel County.”

Scott Bennett, Chief of Telluride’s Volunteer Fire Department encourages everyone to participate:

“We are also giving out an Audience Favorite Award, so even if you don’t want to enter a photo, please go online and vote.” 

For a complete list of contest rules and to vote for your favorite image, go to www.TellurideHotShotPhotoContest.com.

All American Rebels, Michelle Fortin, Audience Choice

The idea for the Hot Shot July 4th Photo Contest dates back six years , when co-event founder Katrine Formby was chilling at Rancho La Puerta, Mexico. She and husband Bill happened to be at the spa during “Photography Week,” when the resort held a daily one-hour session on the medium.

Questions? Contact the Ah Haa School for the Arts at 970-728-3886 or Katrine Formby at formby87@aol.com.