Drive By

This is last year's contest - for information on the 2004 contest, click here.

Here are the winners of the 2003 Drive By Photo Contest:
(if you see your name and we misspelled it, please send an email to driveby@jimsphotolab.com )

First Place - Donna Bennett

Second Place - Lesar Berdeja

Third Place - Sebastian Aguirre

Judges Choice - Shawn Amastoe

Judges Choice - Ray Fourzan

Modorators Choice - Jackie Hughes

Jim's Photo Lab Favorite - Beverly Widener

El Paso Scene Choice - DeAnna Varela

Most Creative and Jim's Photo Lab Favorite Runner Up - Melody Parra
(The first time in Drive By history that one photo has gotten two awards!)

Most Amusing - Ivette Savina

Judges Choice - David Brown

Honorable Mention - Stacy Kendrick

Honorable Mention - George Tausiani

Honorable Mention - Rita Aguilar

Honorable Mention - Sharlene Glock

Honorable Mention - Michael Alford

Honorable Mention - Chaun Bustamante

Honorable Mention - Ally August

Honorable Mention - Craig Braginton

Honorable Mention - Thomas Marshall

Honorable Mention - Dan Benuska

There were many more photos that deserve to be on this page, regretfully we did not have time to upload all of them. A special thanks to everybody who entered the 2003 Drive By Photo Contest and we look forward to seeing you in the 2004 contest.

Saturday Update - The judging is today! Winners will be announced on July 17 at the banquet at Ardivino's.

Thursday Update - All but three people have selected their entry and all three of them have called asking if they can please come in Friday morning to make their choice. The answer, of course, is "Of Course." Anybody who has not shown up by 4:00 Friday will have their entry chosen for them by the staff at Jim's Photo Lab. We noticed something interesting as the entries were chosen - This year's entrants have done a PHENOMENAL job! The quality of the photos is head and shoulders above previous years contests. Please realize that we here at Jim's Photo Lab see photographs all day long and we are in absolute awe at some of the work. A bit jealous too.

Wednesday Update - The final tally of returned cameras as of close of business Tuesday (the deadline) is 217. Another five people will come in today and beg and plead for us to accept their entry one day late. The entire purpose of the contest is to have fun and show off the capabilities of Jim's Photo Lab, so we of course accept the late entrants. Out of 281 cameras sold, 222 get returned for processing. About 145 people have selected their entry. Note - If you are one of the 59 people who purchased but did not return the camera, you have prepaid your developing and printing so you may bring the camera in at any time and there will be no charge - you will even get the free enlargement, but of course there isn't a contest to enter.

All Jim's Photo Lab personnel got a bonus check Wednesday for their fine work in this contest. They deserve it!

Tuesday Update - its pure overload at Jim's Photo Lab. Cameras coming in and entries being chosen create some embarrassing logjams in our production flow. One regular customer who uses Newman a lot asks us to "Please call me when this contest is over - I can't handle this." All of the entrants seem to have enjoyed themselves. Today was the last day that cameras could be returned for processing.

Monday Update - The cameras started flying back into the store after a slow start.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday update - The final tally was 281 cameras sold. Three were given away at no charge and one was returned as defective - it seems the viewfinder was very blurry. We of course replaced it for the entrant. So far only 25 cameras were returned for processing. Six people have completed the whole process of shooting, developing and choosing their enlargement.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE - We broke the 250 cameras sold mark.

TUESDAY UPDATE - Sold 47 cameras, two came back for processing.

MONDAY UPDATE - Kodak came through with gifts for everybody. There is a free mug for everybody while supplies last and everybody will get a cool key chain whistle when they drop the camera off for development. PLUS Kodak donated three hard body 35MM cameras for prizes. See below for an update on the prize structure. We sold 68 more cameras Monday.

SATURDAY UPDATE - We sold 122 cameras on Saturday, 76 at Jim's Photo Lab and 46 at the PEEP meeting! We still have 227 cameras available for this year's contest.

It's time again for the PEEP (Photo Enthusiast of El Paso) Drive By Photo Contest. As in years past, everybody starts on an equal footing since each and every contestant will use the same Kodak Single Use Camera. To make it even more challenging, you need to be within five feet of your car when you take the photo.

First prize is a $250.00 Jim's Photo Lab gift certificate plus a 35MM camera.
Second prize is a $150.00 Jim's Photo Lab gift certificate.
Third prize is a $75.00 Jim's Photo Lab gift certificate.
There will also be assorted judges choice prizes with gift certificate values of at least $20.00 each.
All first time Drive By participants will have a special judging. First Prize for a first timer will be a 35MM camera and five rolls of film; second prize for a first timer will be five rolls of film.
The Back Room Favorite Award: There are people at Jim's Photo Lab that you rarely see; these are the people who actually develop your photographs. These people have been asked to pick their favorite photograph, and it might not be the one you choose to enter into the contest. These people will choose the one photo they like the best and that person will get five rolls of film plus a $50.00 gift certificate.

The third Kodak camera will be given away on August 15. We will have a drawing from the pool of everybody who has signed up for our online newsletter. All drive by participants who sign up will get two entries in the drawing and then we will give everyone else who signs up one entry into the drawing.

Here is the timeline:

Cameras may be picked up at Jim's Photo Lab starting Saturday, June 14.
Photos may be taken starting Sunday, June 15 and ending Saturday, June 21.
There is a geographical limit. The boundaries are:
     East to Cattleman's Steakhouse
     South to the southern Juarez city limits
     West to the Texas State line
     North to the Texas State line
So - You have to be in Texas anywhere between Canutillo and Fabens or anywhere in Juarez.
The Kodak Single Use Cameras need to be returned to Jim's Photo Lab, 6600 North Mesa, no later than 6:00 on Tuesday, June 24. You may bring the cameras in anytime after you finish shooting the roll, there is no need to wait until June 24.
Due to the volume of entries, the Drive By cameras will be developed within 48 hours. Jim's Photo Lab's normal processing times do not apply.
You must come back to Jim's Photo Lab no later than June 26 to choose the photo that you want entered in the contest. At that time you will use our Newman system to order your 8X12 enlargement. At that time you will take your negatives and prints with you. The enlargements will be mounted and given to PEEP for judging. The judging will take place on Saturday, June 28.
All photos entered may be used by any of the local sponsors - PEEP; The El Paso Scene and/or Jim's Photo Lab for any promotional purposes. Full photo credit will be given. No compensation will be given.
There will be a reception at 6:30 on Thursday, July 17 at Ardivino's Desert Crossing in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Silly question: Why are contestants not allowed to photograph in New Mexico, but we hand out the prizes in New Mexico? Answer: Who knows.
If you want your enlargement after the contest is over:
     You may pick it up on September 13 at the PEEP meeting at 10:00 at the Chamizal.
     You may pick it up between September 16 and December 15 at Jim's Photo Lab
     Any unclaimed enlargements, photos, negatives, etc., will be destroyed on or after December 16.

If you have any questions, call (915) 587-7070 or send an email to driveby@jimsphotolab.com