CITYBEAT PHOTO CONTEST 2003

Judging a photo contest is serious business. But that doesn't mean we arbiters of photographic wizardry didn't share a chuckle over some of the more whimsical entries. We especially enjoyed the one of the young woman standing in the dumpster with a somewhat mischievous look on her face. Perhaps next year we'll establish a category that stresses strangeness and fun over mechanic mastery and artistic expression.

Meantime, we'll focus on those photographs that impressed us in terms of composition, creativity and technical expertise. Here, over the next four pages, is our celebration of the art of photography-the winners of CityBeat's first annual photo contest.

Thanks to all the shooters-professional and amateur-who entered. Congratulations to the winners, and to those who didn't win: dust off that camera throughout the coming year, shoot anything and everything and-please-submit again next year.