Our 2nd annual photo scavenger, scheduled for this weekend (Sunday the 17th), is ready to roll. Those who attended last year's event at the Promenade Shops reportedly had a good time.
Here's the basic scoop. While the schedule shows a 9am starting time, you can venture to Jim Thorpe anytime during the day. It's going to be a busier weekend than usual, with the celebration of the birthday of Jim Thorpe.
This is how the scavenger hunt will work. You can pick up your instructions as the Visitor's center located in the train station. I'll be there at 9am to drop them off and hand them out to you that come early, but the staff will have them for you during the day. I also suggest you pick up a Jim Thorpe guide, with a map on P. 44. In your packet will be instructions, as well as the list of items to photograph. I have planned the shots so that they area you need to cover is clearly defined, and limited to a small area, perhaps three blocks long and one block wide. No long hikes necessary, just you, your camera, and some imagination. There will be about ten shots for the contest, so you won't have to find all the 15-20 items listed to win. As we did last year, it's more about finding the things than the quality of the photos, although there wil be a small consideration for that as well. If you find them quickly, you could shoot them all in an hour or so, but it's hoped you enjoy the town and what it has to offer.
Once done, you'll have until Wednesday evening at 7pm to post them on the forum. After that, entrees will be scored, with a prize ( "How to Photograph Absolutely Everything" by Tom Ang...I ordered two for myself in error <smile>) awarded at the meeting on Thursday night.
When we planned the date, we were not aware that there was a celebration going on during the weekend. After talking to the staff there, Sunday should be OK, especially if you come early. On Saturday, a train will be coming in and unloading 700 tourists...ouch! However, if you are bound and determined to shot on Saturday and enjoy large crowds, they train doesn't arrive until 11am. If you're going on Saturday instead, e-mail me (
jegrim@aol.com) and I'll e-mail you the instructions and the list of items. You are also welcome to go up on Monday through Wednesday, and I'll ask the Visitor's Center to hold some envelopes until then.
For those of you not familiar with the town, it's located on Route 209 north of Lehighton, less than an hour's drive from Allentown. It's a beautiful little place. At the turn of the 19th century, it was second only to Niagara Falls as a tourist destination. Great little places to eat, interesting little shops, and some seriously nice architecture. I was up this week to finish the scavenger hunt, and had a nice breakfast at Albright Mansion on Braodway (not an ad, just a comment).
Look for more information in the next couple of days.
If you have any questions, please post them.
