3 LOCAL ENTRIES ARE PHOTO WINNERS

Three local photographers have earned international recognition in the 1998 KINSA competition.

David Baltzell of Cape Girardeau, Phyllis Brunke of Jackson and Mary Cobb of Scott City each won Special Merit Awards in the judging. Each also received a $50 check from Kodak.

The three were finalists in the Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards contest conducted locally by the Southeast Missourian. Local winners advanced to international judging.

In all, judges selected 259 winning photographs from among 1,000 finalists submitted by 129 participating newspapers.

Baltzell was honored in the abstract division for his "July 4th Celebration" photograph of the St. Louis arch and courthouse illuminated by fireworks.

"When I saw the display at the mall, I saw that there are a lot of talented photographers in this area," Baltzell said. "There were so many great photographs it would have been impossible for me to pick a winner."

Brunke was honored in the humor division for her "Close Up and Personal" photograph of a young girl photographing a curious horse.

Cobb of Scott City won in the candids division for "Popsicle Summer," a picture of her two children and a friend enjoying a Popsicle after a day of summer fun.

"My kids will be thrilled," Cobb said. "I must say this has been great fun for us. I would like to say thank you."

Cobb's children were featured in a photograph that captured a Special Merit Award in the 1997 international competition.

A joyful black-and-white snapshot of a girl softball player at bat won the KINSA Best of Show. Sandy Hersman of Glenwood Springs, Colo., won $10,000 for her photograph.

Judges chose six other top winners: a still life of street art in progress, an abstract of a stucco wall with potted plants, a portrait of a girl on a swing, a night photo of a rainy pier, a scenic view of an abandoned school and an offbeat snapshot of a birthday boy.

This year's judges came from National Geographic, Walt Disney Attractions, Eastman Kodak Co. and the College of Imaging Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Four Southern Illinois photographers were honored for photographs entered in the Southern Illinoisan newspaper's KINSA contest. Winning Special Merit awards were Carla Chatham of Cobden, George Blatter of Herrin and Tawfik K. "Joe" Youssef of Harrisburg. Terry J. Vercellino of Mulkeytown won an honor award.