Kansas the common scene for photo display

1/1/2013

By JUDY SHERARD

jsherard@dailynews.net

Photographers will have a chance to show their state pride in the Kansas Day photo contest, sponsored by the Kansas Room at Hays Public Library.

"It's a nice way to commemorate Kansas Day, and (for the) people in Hays to showcase their photography skills," said Lucia Flaim, Kansas Room librarian.

Participants can enter in one of three age categories -- 12 years and younger, age 13 to 18, and older than 18, Flaim said.

There are four submission categories -- Kansas people, natural Kansas, limestone Kansas and Kansicana.

Kansas people can include candid shots or portraits of individuals and groups.

Natural Kansas can include photos of landscapes, plants, animals, weather and geology.

The limestone Kansas category is "sort of specific to this area," and could picture limestone buildings, statues or stone posts, Flaim said.

Kansicana, a play on Americana, could be events, objects or activities connecting Kansans to their history or cultural heritage.

"Around here it might be something like a Volga-German festival," she said.

Entries must be a framed photograph at least 5-by-7 inches. No digital copies will be accepted. Each photo must be accompanied by a photo information sheet. Information sheets are available on the library website at www.hayspublib.org.

Participants can enter only one photo per category and must submit a photo consent form giving the library the right to use the photo.

Photos must be the original work of the person submitting the photo.

Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 18, and judging will take place the week of Jan. 21.

There will be three or four judges representing different sectors of the community, and they won't know the photographers' names.

"We may have a library employee, but they won't all be from the library," Flaim said.

Winners will be notified Jan. 25. There will be a reception Jan. 29 -- Kansas Day -- in the Kansas Room, and the photos will be on display.

First, second and third place entries will be recognized in each category.

Since it is the first year for the contest, Flaim isn't sure how many entries to expect. She's hoping a number of youngsters participate.

"With the holidays, we had a lot of stuff going on," Flaim said. "The beginning of January should be a good opportunity for us to promote the photo contest in youth services and throughout the library."