Austin, Texas – Any resident who has taken a picture of a field of bluebonnets knows the special beauty of the Texas Hill Country was meant to be photographed. Now the Hill Country Alliance 2008 Photo Contest adds incentive to the simple pleasure, offering cash prizes up to $1,500 and inclusion in the HCA’s popular annual Hill Country calendar for winning images.

The HCA has teamed up this year with the Texas Hill Country Nature Photography Alliance to offer access to some of the Hill Country’s prettiest scenery. There are six beautiful private ranches in THCNPA and they are opening their gates to photographers and nature enthusiasts. They have offered a bonus $1,000 prize (on top of HCA’s prize money) if the grand prize winning photograph is taken at a member ranch. Reservations are required before accessing the designated ranches. Contact www.hillcountry photo.org for details and mention the Hill Country Alliance to receive $25 off access fee.

The Hill Country Alliance is promoting the photo contest to acknowledge the special attributes of our region and recognize that the wildflowers, the hills, creeks, springs, rivers, and wide open spaces that make the Hill Country a world-class tourist destination are at risk as the cities of Austin and San Antonio and their surrounding suburbs sprawl into rural areas. The development that comes with that growth is largely unregulated because Texas counties lack the necessary tools to plan for safe roads, scenic protection, farm and ranch land preservation, clean streams and an adequate water supply for the future.

“The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) works to bring attention to these issues. The photo contest celebrates what’s great about the Hill Country and raises awareness of its fragile condition. We believe photography can capture what is of value and what is at stake,” says Lee Carrell, a HCA Board Member. “We’re looking for beautiful photography that captures the unique beauty, natural qualities, people and places of this special region. HCA believes a strong economic future for this region depends on our ability to direct growth in a way that conserves the very resources that make the Texas Hill Country such a desirable place to live.”

The Hill Country Alliance is a non-profit organization that includes neighborhood groups, ranchers, landowners, environmentalists, groundwater districts, elected officials and developers. For more see www.hillcountryalliance.org.

Photos to the left courtesy

Hill Country Alliance.