KINSA PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENS TUESDAY AT WEST PARK MALL

Summary: Ballots available for "People's Choice" award.

An exhibit of all 1,100 photographs entered in the local KINSA contest opens Tuesday at West Park Mall and visitors are encouraged to vote on a "People's Choice" award.

"Everyone can see all the entries and judge for themselves," said Joni Adams, who is coordinating the KINSA contest.

During the six-week competition, sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, a panel of judges looked at entries and selected 24 semi-finalists. From the semi-finalists, eight finalists were chosen. Those eight photographs have been submitted for international judging.

KINSA is the largest annual amateur-snapshot contest. In 1997, judges in the international competition considered 1,116 photographs from 258 newspapers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Photographers competed for $52,500 in prizes.

Last year, two finalists from the local contest earned international recognition. Dr. Robert Cox of Cape Girardeau and Mary Cobb of Scott City both received Special Merit Awards and $50 checks. Finalists learned about the international judging in November.

The public will have a chance to get in on the voting at West Park Mall. Ballots will be available throughout the exhibit and at the customer service desk near the JCPenney court. The exhibit will remain on display through Sept. 8, during regular mall hours.

The "People's Choice" winner will receive an overnight stay in St. Louis.

The mall was a logical choice for the exhibit, Adams said. "The mall is a regional gathering place, and we had entries from throughout the region."

"We've had a lot of fun with the KINSA contest," Adams said. "And we've found we have a lot of fine amateur photographers in our area."

She said the photographs also give a different perspective to many everyday scenes. "It's like looking at the world through a child's eye," Adams said. "When they take these wonderful photographs, we all get a different look at things."

Sponsors of this year's contest include Schnucks, Target, Delmonico's, Western Sizzlin' and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

All 24 semifinalists will receive an enlargement of their photo, gift certificates from area merchants and a Southeast Missourian comic umbrella.

Additionally, the eight finalists will receive a prize certificate from Kodak and a framed copy of their prize-winning photograph.

This marked the second year the Southeast Missourian has participated in the KINSA contest.