Jefferson County seniors love their pets. And they’ve been showing us just how much since 2008, when the Grand Times annual “Picture Your Pet” contest debuted.
We’re looking forward to a new crop of pet pictures this year. The photo competition is open to Jefferson County residents who are 50 or older. Winning photos, along with many of the other entries, will be published in the Grand Times, which will be delivered in the Oct. 2 issue of the paper. Photos will be posted, too, to the Leader website.
The magazine will provide information about the Arnold Senior Expo, which will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
The deadline to submit a photo is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17.
This is not a “random drawing” contest; prizes will be awarded based on the quality of the photograph. Judges will evaluate pictures on creativity, composition, charm and technical aspects such as focus, lighting and cropping. The first-place photo will win a $100 prize; second place will win $50 and third place, $25.
■ The photograph must have been taken by the person who enters the contest, and studio photos are not eligible.
■ The pet may be from the photographer’s past or present, and the photo may be from last week or from long ago.
■ Photographs may include people, but the focus should be on the animal.
■ There is a limit of one entry per pet, and a limit of three photos per photographer. A group photo of several pets may also be entered.
■ Pets who have appeared in previous Leader Publications contests are acceptable but the same photographs are not.
■ Entries may be color or black and white.
Send entries to: Picture Your Pet, Leader Publications, P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028.
Photos may also be dropped off at the Leader office at 503 N. Second St., Festus. A print of the photograph will be needed for judging purposes, so do not e-mail photos. Also, please use photo paper for prints rather than regular paper.
Please include the following information with each entry:
■ The photographer's name, address, phone number and age.
■ The pet’s name and age.
■ The date and place the photo was taken.
■ The names of any people in the photo.
Also include a note explaining how the photo illustrates your pet’s personality.
Photos can be picked up at the Leader Publications office at 503 N. Second in Festus after Oct. 14. Entries will be mailed back if submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
For information, call Leader Publications at 636-931-7560.
