photo contest

In 2002, the Crossroads Museum held their first annual local photo contest.
Being a young photographer at the time, I entered seven or eight photos I had taken.
To my surprise several of my entries placed. The above photo of a stray cat beside a clay angel yard art piece in a over worn thicket placed first in the wildlife/pets category.
The museum has since hosted a contest every year. I have entered all, but one. It has always felt good to help out the museum, as entry fees went to help the museum stay open.
Now, a local photography club is hoping to bring attention to their art while helping others through an upcoming contest.
The Corinth Light Writers club is hosting their first ever amateur photography contest with all proceeds from the contest going to another great cause. The AMEN Food Pantry will benefit with help to provide food assistance to those in need.
Entries will be accepted in categories for natural landscape, architectural landscape, black and white, food, animals (pets and wildlife) and youth (18 and under). Each entry will cost $5. Prizes of $10 for the best in each category and $25 for best of show will be awarded.
All entries must be submitted no later than this Friday. Entry forms can be picked up at Walgreens, Plaza Cleaners, K-Mart, Farmington Town Hall and the Daily Corinthian.
All entries will be on display at Farmington Town Hall from throughout the month of March. An opening reception and awards program will be held from 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 for all entrants and their guests.
Participants may include a price to be put on their photo while in the exhibit, with 10 percent commission from the sale going to the food pantry.
So, find your favorite recent photo and enter it in the contest. You'll help a worthy cause and expose your art to the world.

crossroads

One of the coolest possible photo opportunities in Corinth is the historic Crossroads of railroad tracks at the Corinth Depot.
Unfortunately this photo is also one of the easiest snapshots in North Mississippi -- as long as the snapper is brave enough to trek over the sometimes busy railroad tracks.
The photo above is one of the oldest photographs in my portfolio. Taken sometime in 1999 to 2000 time frame, I snapped this photo while on one of my first photo hunts in downtown Corinth.
Over the years I have taken different shots of the Crossroads. I have stood in different spots in order to capture different angles. I have snapped the Crossroads with trains coming from all directions. I have been inside the Depot snapping as a train passed. Snow-covered tracks, cloudy skies, sun shining – name it, I have tried it.
I have actually become somewhat fascinated with trains and the roads they travel since I started viewing the world through a camera lens.
I haven't had much time to go on photo hunts in the last year, but the few times I did I spent all my time following trains down the tracks hoping to capture another cool moment in the Crossroads.

senior art

Word on the street, you're not "cool" if you have graduated from Corinth High School in the last 15 years and didn't spray paint your name on the Fifth Street Bridge.
I graduated from Alcorn Central High School in 2001 and we didn't spray paint anything - rolled a few yards maybe, but no spray paint.
It is hard to believe this tradition of defacing a concrete rail road underpass in the historic district of downtown Corinth has continued for so many years. Unlike me, some people who live less of a mile from the "Warrior Bridge" call the work of the seniors an "eyesore."
I call it art.
Thankfully the city of Corinth covers the spray paint each year around Christmas with a fresh coat of white paint. I guess they are getting it ready for the next round of graduates.

sin alco

The Sin alco sign painted on the side of the Historic Corinth Coliseum is a downtown jewel. It’s a part of old Corinth that is still breathing with life.
I am very interested in old Corinth and even though I have no idea the age of this sign, it has to be at least 50 or 60-years old. The sign has surely seen millions of people walk by, but funny thing is I have had a hard time finding out much information.
Questions on my mind include when was it first painted, who sold it, could you buy it in the coliseum and why can't you find it around here anymore? Asking around, I have learned not many people know or care about the origin of our Sin alco sign.
I Googled Sin alco and discovered a soft drink maker based in Germany. The web site says, "Sinalco is a renowned brand in the gastronomy and retail trade for 100 years now. The cult brand Sinalco is sold in more than 40 countries around the world."
Apparently in 1902 the brand was named and in 1907, it became a "world famous brand."
An interesting fact on the site says, "Another landmark in the brand's history was made when Sinalco received the characteristic red-point as its corporate identity (CI), the worldwide sign of recognition in 1937."
Does this mean our beloved Sin alco sign is pre-1937? It has no red-point that can currently be seen. So many questions yet to be answered ...
I have snapped hundreds of photos of what is one of Corinth's most well preserved original building advertisements. I have stood in all angles and fought all weather conditions chasing after that perfect Sin alco moment.
I'm still working on it ...

If you have any stories to share about Corinth's Sin alco sign, please leave a comment or e-mail webadmin@dailycorinthian.com

drug of choice at Borroum's

Borroum's Drug Store on Waldron Street in downtown Corinth is the oldest drug store in continuous operation in the state of Mississippi. Inside the drug store and cafe, is a museum filled with hundreds of Civil War and early Corinth items in cabinets and hanging on the walls.
But, most folks already know those things about this Corinth staple. Everyone knows Borroum's is the best place in Corinth to order a homemade milk shake or the famous Slug burger...
Oh yeah, a Slug burger - the true drug of choice at Borroum's!
It's funny how I always order the same thing when eating at Borroum's - a slug with cheese, pickle, onion and mustard with fries and a strawberry shake with extra whipped cream.
Some things never change.
Just like the sign on this historic court square building.The real reason why I snapped the above picture was the sign.
It reads, "Borroum's Drug Store."
There it is - the “period” at the end of the name that's painted on the front of the building. In 1865, I understand, soon after the drug store was founded by A.J. Borroum the “period” first made its appearance.
Decades later, the “period” still marks the end of the store's name.
When looking for a fix to that Slug burger craving, stop by Borroum's and don’t forget to take a look at the sign of times painted on the front of the building.

black ice

In January 2000, I got the chance to shot snow for the first time.
I was a young photographer, ready for a new adventure.
Of course, taking pictures of snow in North Mississippi means getting up at 5 a.m. and rushing out to that picture perfect spot before someone walks over it.
On this cold morning I made perfect time. I shot this image off old Highway 72 (the old two lane road) about five miles outside Corinth. I was standing on a sheet of thin ice in the center of the bridge - it was cold outside. Looking down onto the perfect train tracks, I snapped and clicked. The new Highway 72 bridge can be seen in the background. With a little snow falling still, I was able to capture the showers in the distance. Did I mention, it was cold outside?
I love getting out the day after a good snow. Its a great stress free time to relax, look at the beauty and snap that perfect moment.
Just, watch out for the black ice.

my back hurts

During the summer of 2002, I found myself half-way lost in a hayfield about a mile behind my house in the Alcorn Central area of Glen.
I was photo hunting, of course.
Wildlife was on my mind that day, but the only animal I came across was the neighbor's dog, which I had already photographed many "boring" times.
I finally decided I had enough with this wildlife photo hunt. As I turned to head back home, I walked right into a spider web. As I was trying to get out from under the web, I ended up tripping over a log on the ground. Down I went for a hard landing, with my camera held high in the sky.
There I was, lying on my back wondering why I even got up this morning.
Then I figured it out. Still lying on the ground, I hit the auto setting on my lens and started snapping!
I shot up into the sun with the hay shining in the foreground.
I got it.
Forget wildlife.
My perfect moment was the sun the entire time.
As I got back on my feet, I discovered that I was actually lost. It took me most of the day to find the path that would take me home.
I entered this shot in a regional photo contest one year. It took best of show. I am proud of this photo, even though my back still hurts a little every time I see it.