Success strikes Foto Fest entrant twice

Two photos taken by the same man captured judges' attention in the fourth week of Foto Fest, an amateur photography contest for residents of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

The winning semifinalist photos by Marcus Renaud of Cape Girardeau were selected for their bold colors. Other winners were Betty Ross of Cape Girardeau and Laura Phillips of Perryville, Mo.

The photography contest is sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, Mac's Smokehouse, the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and Schnucks.

Renaud's picture of a lightning strike against a vibrant blue sky "showed the forcefulness of nature and electrifies the audience," one judge said.

The picture was taken near Alma Schrader school during a summer storm. Renaud is just getting started in photography and wanted to capture a lightning strike. "I've tried since then to do it again and I've wasted a lot of film," he said.

The second photo showed three silhouettes against a sky at sunrise. The image was "a great study of shadows and light," one judge said. It was taken atop Mount Baldy in Cimarron, New Mexico, at the Philmont Scout Ranch.

The picture was taken two year ago. "We had just hiked up the mountain to catch the sunrise," Renaud said. The trip took three hours, but the photo was worth it.

The picture of a little girl eating an ear of corn "shows the essence of summer," one judge said. The picture shows Ross' great-granddaughter, Lauren Henry, 3, munching on an ear of corn.

The picture was taken in early July at Henry's home in Webster Groves, Mo. "It was her first experience with corn on the cob," Ross said. She liked it so much she ate it before it could be cooked. Now she knows to wait until the corn is cooked, Ross said.

While Ross's photo captured the essence of summer, the photo taken by Phillips reminded judges of times gone by. One judge said it was "adorable."

The photograph of a Phillip's son, Austin, 2, dressed in overalls and standing beside a train engine was taken in June in Jackson, Mo.

"He wouldn't pose for me and I was so upset that he wouldn't look at the camera," Phillips said.

But the pictures turned out to be "breathtaking," she said.

"I wanted to take black and white because you can't tell how old the pictures were," she said. "The way he's dressed you can't tell if its 1940 or 2000."

A grand prize winner will be chosen from the semifinalists selected during the contest. Several other pictures entered in this week's contest received honorable mention and can be seen by clicking here.

All entries can be seen on display at the Pasta House court at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park.

Entry forms are available at online or can be submitted to the customer service counter at the Shoppingtown, Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Marble Hill and Chaffee. You can also mail your entries to Foto Fest 2002; c/o Westfield Shoppingtown West Park; 134 West Park Mall; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63703.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126