WEEK TWO OF KINSA PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS IN TWO FIRSTS

The second week of the local Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards resulted in two firsts.

The team of judges picked the first black and white photograph along with the first "people-picture."

This week's winners include:

-- Brad Davis of Jackson

-- Mary Cobb of Scott City

-- Carolyn Pickens of Jackson

-- Joyce Daniels of Scott City

Today marks start of Week Four of the contest, which runs six weeks.

Semi-finalists are announced each Friday in the Southeast Missourian and interviewed for stories that appear each Sunday.

In addition, all photographs will be displayed at the West Park Mall from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2 -- over the busy Labor Day weekend. Most of the photographs will also appear in a special keepsake publication scheduled Sunday, Aug. 24.

Joyce Hunter, KINSA coordinator at the newspaper, said 119 entries were submitted during Week Two.

The number seems to be increasing each week as enthusiasm for the contest builds.

"The entries were really pouring in this past week," said Hunter. "I'm also receiving a lot of phone calls about the contest."

Semi-finalists will be asked to send in their negative, in case they are chosen for the final eight that will be sent onto international judging. Release forms must also be signed by all identifiable people in the photographs.

-- A black and white photograph taken by Brad Davis shows frozen icicles suspended from lattice work behind his back porch.

"I took the photograph during the last ice storm," he said. "It was sleeting and snowing at the time. I walked outside and was intrigued by the pattern the ice as it came through the lattice."

Davis takes lots of photographs -- most all in black and white.

"I appreciate black and white photography as an art form," he said. "It takes more intrepretation on the part of the viewer."

Davis minored in photography in college, and previously worked for six years in the marketing and publication department at St. Francis Medical Center.

-- A unique shot taken in the bathtub by Mary Cobb also fascinated judges. It shows the faces of her children -- Michaela, 4, and Skylar, 5 -- surrounded by bubbles.

Mary, husband Harold, and children live in Scott City.

Mary Cobb enjoys taking "tons" of photographs of their children.

The children are 15 months apart, and are close friends.

"They always take their baths together. When they were lying there, it looked like their heads were disconnected from their bodies," she said.

The kids, she said, enjoying hamming it up for the camera or video camera.

Cobb is a stay-at-home-mom who formerly worked for Southwestern Bell.

-- A beach scene featuring a pair of seagulls captured the judges' fancy. It was taken in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., by photographer Carolyn Pickens of Jackson.

Pickens, who is retired, enjoys taking photgraphs. "I take a lot of sunsets and sunrises and clouds. I also like to photograph people and buildings."

The seagulls intrigued Pickens because she could get so close to them. She also was fascinated by human footprints and bird footprints in the sand, and the fact the birds seemed to be looking out to the ocean.

-- A breathtaking view of a railroad track on the way to Homer, Alaska was also chosen as a semi-finalist. It was taken by Joyce Daniels of Scott City last July.

The hillside is covered with fireweed, a native Alaskan plant that is hot pink. In the distance, it appears pinkish/purple.

"I just love the view," she said. "I have a bigger picture in my home, framed in blue."

She enjoys taking photographs, but admits she has better luck capturing scenery. "The people I take are always making faces," said Daniels with a laugh.

Daniels teaches Spanish at Scott City High School.

For more information on KINSA, persons can contact Hunter at 573-334-7115 or 1-800-444-4812.