FIVE SEMIFINALISTS PICKED IN FOTO FEST 2000 CONTEST

It isn't every day that a photographer can capture just the right moment in perfect lighting, but that happened to Kirk Barks of Cape Girardeau.

His photograph of his granddaughter, Kayle, sitting on a backyard swing was one of four semifinalists selected during the first week of Foto Fest 2000, a contest sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and Westfield Shoppingtown West Park. Other sponsors are Schnucks, Mac's Smokehouse, Southeast Missouri Hospital and the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Photographs taken by Cindy Huber of Perryville, Don Haupt Jr. of Cape Girardeau and Kim Allen Stricker of Jackson were also selected semifinalists.

The semifinalist winners are published on Page 1C in today's Southeast Missourian. All entries will be displayed Wednesday morning at the mall. More than 225 photos were entered in the contest, which is open to amateur photographers in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Judges liked the play of light in Barks' photograph, calling it "natural" and taken in "a nice, innocent, quiet moment."

Barks said his photography "goes in spurts, but every now and then you get one that turns out nice."

The picture was taken after the child had been playing in a water sprinkler and climbed onto the swing. "She had no idea what I was doing, so I just took the opportunity," he said.

Judges said Huber's photograph was a "classic on the farm picture."

"I love the boy's stance," one judge wrote. "His hands on his hips -- it's like he's telling them to eat or else."

Haupt's photograph "has character," a judge said. "Some thought went into making this photograph."

In his photograph, Haupt captured a woman standing in a field looking at what appears to be an abandoned house. He entered 10 photographs, but "that one was my most favorite," he said.

"It's just an old farmhouse out in Oak Ridge. We just went on the back roads looking for old buildings," Haupt said.

One judge wanted to know of the subject, "What is she thinking?"

Although Haupt carries his camera nearly everywhere he goes, he said: "I'm really an amateur and don't know much about what I'm doing. My friends who do say I have a good eye and to keep shooting."

He most frequently photographs old barns, houses and buildings, or works in shadows.

Kim Allen Stricker captured a moment on film that few people have achieved. The lightning flash in a field of dark clouds shows "the heavens have spoken," one judge wrote.

Shooting that moment in time was "a lot easier than you might think," Stricker said. "You just need a good storm."

Stricker shot the picture from a field behind his house west of Jackson. There were several other storm clouds around, but "this one just kept regenerating itself. It was like the outside was full of fireworks."

Stricker said he chose to focus on the part of the storm clouds that seemed most active. He shot several photographs, but "that was the most spectacular. It was like a giant, angry explosion."

Entry forms must accompany each photograph. Forms and official rules are available at each drop-off location, which includes the customer service center at the mall; Schnucks; Southeast Missourian offices at 301 Broadway in Cape Girardeau and 108 S. Hope in Jackson; Scott County Signal in Chaffee; and the Banner Press in Marble Hill.

Entries may also be mailed to Foto Fest 2000; c/o Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, 134 West Park Mall; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701

Photographs entered in the contest cannot be returned.