Picture Your Favorite Park. Now Picture It Gone.

Fresh off the system of tubes some call an internets from the California State Parks Foundation comes an announcement of a photo contest. Get those pictures soon - regardless of the contest deadline, if the Governor follows through on his scare-tactic plan of closing 48 state parks, it might be the last chance you shutterbugs get to shoot some of these spots.

California State Parks Foundation Launches Photo Contest Share The Beauty—Images of our Magnificent State Parks

Kentfield, CA – The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has launched a free statewide photo contest designed to generate enthusiasm about California’s 278 unique natural, cultural and historic state parks, while allowing photographers to showcase their skills. More than 150 photographs were submitted in the first week of the contest.

“We aren’t surprised at the high number of submissions we’ve received to date,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, CSPF President. “And, we are fully expecting many, many more. California parks are treasured, and they are as diverse and remarkable as the communities they serve.”

The contest, held in partnership with MyParkPhotos.com, encourages all photographers to register on the CSPF website and submit photos of their favorite state parks. Winners will be selected on a monthly basis, with prizes including: a CSPF Membership, an annual state park pass; a subscription to Sunset Magazine, John McKinney’s Day Hikers Guide to California State Parks, and CSPF’s Parklands newsletter. We are also proud to announce that winners will receive a prize from Lowepro (www.lowepro.com), the worldwide leading provider of protective cases and backpacks for imaging and technology products. The grand prize winner, to be announced in January, 2009, will receive all of the above plus additional prizes to be announced soon.

To view the gallery, and for more information about CSPF and the photo contest, visit www.calparks.org/gallery.html

With its 90,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation is the only independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, promoting and advocating for California’s magnificent state parks.