As a member of the Happy Hikers you are well aware of the fact that many of us enjoy photography and certainly we have many fantastic opportunities to take simply gorgeous photographs of the Colorado countryside on our hikes. It is because of these factors that the Happy Hiker leaders have proposed the development of a Happy Hikers Calendar.

We already collect photographs of each hike sponsored by the club and publish them on the Happy Hikers Web Site. Hence, why not take advantage of our passions to hike and photography and make a beautiful Calendar? Exactly, why not publish a calendar?

Hence, here is the plan: (1) Members (and any member guests on hikes) of the club should submit their works of photographic art to Eli Rabito in the same manner that we submit our photographs to her to be published on the web site. Just send your best photo(s) to this email address hh@lagniappestudio.com for the calendar. (2) Use as high a resolution camera as you wish. There is no restriction for this effort. In fact, to get the best possible photographs please use the best camera you have.  However, you should use at least a 2.5-megabyte camera. (3) The photographs have to be taken in Colorado whether it is scenery, animals, flora, birds, etc. (4) Those that submit a photograph are required to sign a waiver for Happy Hikers to use the photograph in the calendar.  You will not need to sign a waver unless your photo is used in the calendar. (5) If there is any profit produced by the selling of the calendar the funds will be kept by the Happy Hikers Club to be used to offset expenses. (6) With the submission of each photograph the photographer must include his/her name, a description of who or what the photograph is of, where exactly the photograph was taken, and when (date) the photograph was taken. Keep in mind that if your photograph is selected that your name will be included in the Calendar with your photo. How cool is that. (7) Please keep in mind that a horizontal photograph is better for a calendar. (8) There is no limit on the number of photographs that can be submitted by a club member for consideration. (9) The time frame for the effort will be from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. That way we can have all seasons considered for inclusion in the calendar and can match up pictures with respective months, i.e., winter photograph with December, etc.  There will be one photograph chosen for each month of the year. (10) A group of volunteers from the club will get together and select the photographs to be included in the calendar shortly after June 30, 2011. (11) We would also like to include a short paragraph or two with each photograph chosen that would talk about the location, history, facts, etc. of the location and/or subject of the photograph. This would be picture specific and include that information, which would be most relevant for each particular photograph. After the photos are selected we will get with each individual photographer and discuss this description paragraph with him or her. (12) We will also include, for each month, a favorite Colorado hike of the club members to be taken in that month.

Bob Rabito has agreed to serve as the chair for the calendar committee and anyone interested in volunteering, or if you have any questions, should give Bob a call at (303-471-2220).

Just remember to send in your best photographs and as many as you wish to Bob and Eli at the email address above and include the basic information about the photo:  the photographer’s name, a description of who or what the photograph is of, where exactly the photograph was taken, and when (date) the photograph was taken.  Don’t forget to encourage you hiking guests to send in their best photographs as well.

Have a great time on your hikes!