Austin – Get your cameras ready to capture the treasures of the Hill Country. It is time to enter your best photographs in the Hill Country Alliance’s (HCA) third annual photo contest. “We hold this contest each year to help raise awareness of the beauty, heritage and the natural resources that make the Hill Country unique,” says Christy Muse, HCA executive director. “We want to encourage residents, landowners and elected officials to take care of this very special part of Texas.” The contest officially opens March 1st.

This year’s theme is Celebrating the Treasures of the Hill Country. What is it that you value? What makes the Hill Country valuable, a treasure to those of us who live here and to visitors just passing through? What treasures of the Hill Country do you want to preserve for your children to enjoy in the future?

The photo contest is free. A cash prize of $250 will be offered in each category. This year, the contest features four categories that explore the richness, the value, the treasures of the Hill Country:

1) Hill Country people: individuals, children and families

2) Working the land: gardening, agriculture, ranching, farming

3) Hill Country enterprise: wineries, tourism, festivals, towns

4) Natural treasures: springs, parks, rivers, special places in nature

Rules of the 2009 Hill Country Alliance Photo Contest:

•Thirteen winning photographs will be featured in the 2010 Hill Country Calendar

•The competition is open to all photographers ages 16 or older, professional or amateur

•Submissions may be uploaded to the HCA website (www.hillcountryalliance.org) beginning March 1 through May 31, 2009

•Each photographer is limited to four (4) image submissions

•mages must be taken in the 17 Hill Country County region (see the map at http://www.hillcountryalliance.org/HCA/Maps)

The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise public awareness and build community support around the need to preserve the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country.

Please see the Hill Country Alliance website (www.hillcountryalliance.org) for the latest news and events, and to learn more about our initiatives and how you can contribute to our activities.