FOTO FEST SEMIFINALISTS CHOSEN

Linda Moreland knew she had snapped the "perfect shot" of her grandson, but she was thrilled to learn that the photograph had been selected as a semifinalist in the Foto Fest 2000 contest.

Moreland of Mounds, Ill., was chosen as one of four semifinalist winners in the amateur photography contest. Other winners were Janice Meyr of Jackson, Mo., Maggie Friend and Erica Hoeflinger, both of Cape Girardeau.

The contest, which is sponsored by Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and the Southeast Missourian, ends Friday. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. to qualify for the final round of judging.

More than 150 photographs were entered in this week's contest and more are expected for the final week, said Joyce Hunter, marketing director at the shoppingtown.

Other contest sponsors are St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Mac's Smokehouse, Schnuck's and the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Judges thought Moreland's photograph of her grandson, Conner, was "thoughtful" and showed "great use of natural light."

She said the child had been intent on watching a Praying Mantis walk. "He thought the stick was moving," she said. "I took three pictures of that but that was the best."

Moreland is constantly taking photographs of the child when he visits her farm. "If I only had a nickel for every picture I've taken," she said. Already during a visit this week she's snapped two full rolls. "He's just growing so fast."

Erica Hoeflinger of Cape Girardeau also entered a photograph she thought was "nothing fancy" but captured an adorable moment.

Hoeflinger entered a picture of her niece, Sherran, taken during a visit about nine months ago.

"She was just acting cute and it looked like she was washing her hair but she's just mimicking," Hoeflinger said. The photograph was taken when the child was six months old.

Judges said the picture showed "a perfect expression. A hard subject to capture at just the right moment." Another judge wrote, "what a great moment, very candid."

Maggie Friend captured a moment "like something from National Geographic" when she caught an African dance troupe performing at Epcot Center.

The photograph was taken while Friend was standing in a crowd and used a long lens to capture the dancer. "We stopped to watch the troupe and he was one of the performers. When he saw that lens he just stopped and gave me a big grin," she said.

The photograph had been entered in previous weeks, Friend said. "It's was my husband's favorite."

Other photographs from the dance didn't turn out nearly as good as the one entered, Friend said.

The photograph taken by Janice Meyr of Jackson, Mo., shows the sunlight streaming through a grove of trees. Judges said the photograph shows "the light of God" or "makes you feel inspired."

Meyr, who was selected as a semifinalist winner last week also, said the photograph was taken at her farm in the early morning hours.