AMATEUR CAMERAS CAPTURE 'PERFECT' PHOTO

This week's KINSA contest semifinalists prove that some of the best pictures can't be planned. The winning photographers happened to be at the right place at the right time with cameras in hand.

KINSA, Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards, is the world's largest annual amateur-snapshot contest. Locally, the KINSA contest is entering the fifth of six weeks. The last date for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, July 31.

Ann Kinsey, a local veterinarian, wanted her young son, Truman, to meet a litter of puppies that belonged to Ed and Marsha Thompson.

"I wanted to take him over to see the puppies," Kinsey recalled. "And I took the camera, just in case."

The puppies loved Truman, and judges loved the image of the little boy surrounded by dogs.

"I don't take that many pictures," Kinsey said. "I should take more. Usually we take pictures of Truman. He's so photogenic."

Gwen Bennett brought her camera to son Ross's baseball game. She planned to take pictures of all his teammates as a gifts for the boys' parents.

After the game, her nephew, Sam Stahly, 5, walked up to the fence to give his cousin, Ross, a high five.

"I just happened to capture that moment," Bennett said.

She gave Sam a framed copy of the print, which he proudly showed to his friends.

Becky Peters took her daughter, Audrey, 6, and niece, Logan Birk, 7, for a ride on the steam train at Jackson.

"They were waiting impatiently for the train to go, so I went outside to take their picture," Peters said. "I hollered for them to look out the window."

Peters said she usually takes her camera with her. "With kids, it's be best to just take pictures of them being themselves. If you try to pose them, it doesn't work."

She especially likes the way black-and-white photographs look and has several framed in her home.

Judith Weber drives past the Mississippi River waterfront every morning on her way to work. One morning, she noticed the moisture rising from the river and wondered if she could capture that image on film.

The next morning she brought her camera and snapped a quick shot.

"It turned out a lot better than I thought," Weber said. "I like to take pictures, but I'm just an amateur. Mostly I take pictures of my family."

In all, 24 semi-finalists will be selected by a panel of community judges. From those, eight finalists will be forwarded to the international competition.

The Southeast Missourian's contest is open to current residents of Missouri counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, New Madrid, Stoddard, Perry and Madison and Illinois counties of Alexander, Pulaski and Union.

KINSA entries will be accepted at Schnucks, Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Center, Target, Western Sizzlin, and Delmonico's.

Entries will also be accepted at Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and the Banner Press office in Marble Hill.

Entries can be mailed to Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, Attention: KINSA.

There is no cost to enter and no limit on entries. No photos will be returned.

For information, contact Joyce Hunter at (573) 335-6611, ext. 150.