We are pleased to announce the jurors for the 18th annual competition as Shauna Caldwell and Eric Heistand.  All of the images for our annual competition are selected by these jurors, both of which reside in the High Country and bring a varied but complementary perspective to the competition this year.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating our 18th year of the AMPC” states Rich Campbell, Associate Director for Programs with Appalachian State University’s University Recreation and the Competition Director for the AMPC. “We have built a long history of celebrating the people, places, and pursuits of the Southern Appalachians through photography. This has been a very challenging year, and we were thrilled with the response we received by the number of people submitting images this year. Now, more than ever, I think people really appreciate the abundant outdoor resources that the AMPC celebrates every year.”

Shauna Caldwell

Shauna is an artist from Boone, NC. She received BFAs in both Studio Art and Art Education.

In addition to working as Assistant Director of Arts Education and Outreach at Appalachian State University, she is currently pursuing a MA in Appalachian Studies and a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Administration.

Her roots in Appalachia and relationship with the environment shape her creative work.

Visit Shauna’s website for more information.

Eric Heistand

Eric is a visual storyteller with a love for capturing redemptive moments and unlikely heroes. An outdoor enthusiast, Eric’s photography began as an extension of chronicling his adventures on rock walls and ski slopes.

Nimble movement over mountainous terrain has shaped Eric’s embrace of a “fast and light” photography ethic. Eric moved from the Colorado Rockies to the Appalachians 12 years ago. He has grown to love the misty mountains of North Carolina.

“Don’t be fooled by their smaller size, compared to other great mountain ranges,” says Eric. “These mountains easily hide beautiful treasures within their dense and complex canopy. A friendship with a local can open up secret passages and vistas that aren’t marked on any map.”

Exhibition Information

This year the Turchin Center will be offering limited access to the Mezzanine Gallery where the AMPC will be exhibited. Groups of up to 10 people will be able to reserve spots to browse the gallery and see the exhibition. Additionally, AMPC organizers will organize specific AMPC appointments for viewing.

We also have an ambitious virtual calendar lined up, including a signature event on March 20, 2021 where we will announce all of the winning images, and a compelling panel discussion about Contemporary Appalachian Photography with esteemed panelists Clarissa Sligh, lydia see, Megan King, and Madison Hye Long on March 24, 2021.

The AMPC exhibition opens on March 5 and runs through June 5, 2021.