May 6, 2013
Contact:
Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 x 102
Sierra Club, Smithsonian Partner to Celebrate 50 Years of Wilderness
Nationwide Photo Competition Launches Today
Washington, DC: The Sierra Club, as part of the Wilderness 50 coalition, the Smithsonian Institution, and Nature's Best Photography today are launching a "Wilderness Forever" photography competition. Fifty winning photos illustrating the magnificence of our nation's wilderness areas will be viewed by millions of visitors in an exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
"Over the past 50 years the Wilderness Act has helped preserve well-loved areas from Minnesota's Boundary Waters to the Bridger-Tetons in Wyoming and California's Sierra Nevada. These wilderness areas and others enrich the lives of people across the country. We encourage everyone to share their photos-- and the stories and memories accompanying them-- to help us celebrate these unique pieces of America," said Dan Chu, director of Sierra Club's Our Wild America campaign.
Today more than 100 million acres of land across 44 states enjoy the highest level of protections thanks to the Wilderness Act. This land helps provide clean air and water for communities across the nation, home for an abundance of wildlife, and recreation opportunities that support a $646 billion dollar outdoor economy.
“We're very excited to share the public’s own visions of America’s beautiful wilderness lands and to educate visitors about the importance of preserving our natural heritage through this remarkable photography exhibition," said Charles Chen of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
“Photography delivers immediate and long-lasting impact. What better way to celebrate the beauty of our natural heritage than through the eyes of the public and their shared experiences in our wilderness areas,” says Steve Freligh, Nature’s Best Photography Editor-in-Chief, and “Wilderness Forever” photo competition judge.
The professionally-juried contest will run through September 3, 2013 and the winning photos will be included as part of a 2014 Smithsonian exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Contest guidelines and entry instructions can be found online at http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/wilderness.
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Wilderness50 is a coalition of more than 25 non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies that is planning and implementing local, regional, and national events and projects. http://www.wilderness50th.org