Shutter Mike Photography

The Friends Of San Tan Mountains Regional Park are holding their 4th Annual Amateur Photography Contest.  If you are unfamiliar with San Tan Mountains Regional Park it is in the Southeastern part of the metro Phoenix area and is part of the Maricopa County parks system.  Situated on over 10,000 acres the park is an excellent representation of the Sonoran desert with diverse wildlife and vegetation.

Even without the incentive of an amateur photography contest, the San Tan Mountains Regional Park is a landscape and nature photographer’s dream.  But the Friends of San tan Mountain Regional Park who “…work to protect and preserve the Park’s archeological, historic and traditional cultural areas” have given something extra to “shoot” for with their 4th annual contest.  Here are the basics of the contest:

• Entries in one of two age group categories (youth up and including 17 years old and adults 18 and up) will be accepted through May 31st.
• There is a $5 per image entry fee with a maximum of 2 submissions per entry.
• The photos have to be taken within the park, of course.
• Photos will be on display in the visitors center and judged by the public with final judging by the board.
• A Certificate of Excellence Award will be awarded to the winners in each division and the photos will be used for fund raising purposes for the Friends of San Tan Mountain  Regional Park.

See the San Tan Park Photo Contest Rules for more details and the entry form.  Even if you aren’t up for entering a contest (which you should be) head out to the park for some great photography opportunities.  The weather is perfect for a hike and with all the rain this winter the wildflowers will certainly be worth the trip alone.