FIRST WEEK OF PHOTO CONTEST DRAWS MORE THAN 100 ENTRIES

Well over 100 photographs were submitted for the first week of judging in the local Kodak International Newspaper Shapshot Awards.

Joyce Hunter, contest coordinator at the Southeast Missourian, feel the judges have their work cut out for them.

"Some of these pictures give you the chills. Some just make you go ah-ah-ah. You really feel the emotion with many of these pictures, and you can't help but wonder about the story behind them," she said.

The official judging will take place Tuesday, and the four semi-finalists will be published in Saturday's Southeast Missourian. Future weekly winners will be announced every Friday.

If you didn't enter last week, don't worry, said Hunter. A new contest week begins today.

The contest is brought to the region by the Southeast Missourian, and these official Gold sponsors: Southeast Missouri Hospital, Western Sizzlin' and Carnival Shoe in Cape Girardeau and Delmonico's in Jackson.

"We do have a few gold and regular sponsorships available," said Hunter. "Businesses should remember that even if they become a sponsor, their employees would still be eligible to enter."

The first week of entries came from a wide area. "We really have a nice representation this first week," said Hunter.

Due to a loophole in the contest rules, individuals can enter the same photograph more than one week.

Wal-Mart is no longer an entry dropoff. However, photographs can be brought to the following official entry centers: Western Sizzlin' and Shoe Carnival in Cape Girardeau, Delmonico's in Jackson and all Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee and Marble Hill.

The photographs entered this first week represent a wide variety of people, places and things.

"They really run the rainbow of possibilities," said Hunter. "We have travel photographs from Europe, Russia, Ireland and a block or two down the street."

Even though this is a holiday week, Hunter hopes to experience a growing number of weekly entries. She suggested Fourth of July photographs would be good subject matter for the contest.

"I can really see entries snowballing as more people hear about this contest," said Hunter.

She said people don't need a bunch of photographs before they consider entering. The majority of people simply entered one or two the first week.

"Many people may enter other photographs each week of the contest to increase their chances of winning," Hunter suggested.

Photographs cannot be returned, because they will be included in the display at the mall.

For more information, contact Hunter at 334-7115 or 1-800-444-4812.

KINSA FAST FACTS

-- The contest is strictly amateur.

-- Any photograph -- black and white or color -- taken since Jan. 1, 1995, is eligible.

-- There is no entry fee.

-- Individuals can enter as many times as they wish, and the same photograph may be entered multiple weeks.

-- All residents of the Missouri counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, New Madrid, Perry, Stoddard and Madison, and the Illinois counties of Alexander, Pulaski and Union are eligible to enter.

-- Gold sponsors are Southeast Missouri Hospital, Western Sizzlin' and Shoe Carnival in Cape Girardeau and Delmonico's in Jackson.

-- Official entry centers: Delmonico's, Western Sizzlin' and Shoe Carnival, along with all offices of the Southeast Missourian in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee and Marble Hill.

-- All photographs entered will be displayed at the West Park Mall Aug. 26 through Sept. 2.

-- Eight finalists will be chosen from the six-week contest and forwarded to Kodak's international judging.

-- Many of the local photographs will appear in a keepsake KINSA tabloid to be published in the newspaper Aug. 24.