Photos courtesy of PEEP Jose Dominguez, a contestant in last year's photography contest, captured a bit of Mexican culture with this shot of a performer on the street. This year's contestants are encouraged to take pictures of eye-catching moments in daily city life.

This picture of "Los Lagartos" in San Jacinto Plaza was taken by a contestant in last year's drive-by photo contest.

Contest rules Entry fee is $16 plus tax. Cameras may be picked up at Jim's Photo Lab, 6600 N. Mesa or 1506 Lee Treviño. A workshop will take place at 2 p.m. today at Burges Branch Library, 9600 Dyer. Cameras must be returned for processing no later than 6 p.m. June 18. Pick up and select entry prints June 21. A reception will be at 6:30 p.m. July 18 at Ardovino's Desert Crossing in Sunland Park. Entries can be claimed at the Wilderness Park Museum on Sept. 14. Information: 587-7070.

With disposable Kodak cameras, many El Paso residents will venture into the city over the next few days to capture overlooked scenery and find creative highlights.

The photographs will be for the seventh annual Drive-By Photo contest.

Contestants will have seven days to shoot any scene from Downtown El Paso to the Juárez metroplex during the week of June 10-16.

Entries will be judged by four members of the three sponsors, Photography Enthusiasts of El Paso (PEEP), Jim's Photo Lab and the El Paso Scene.

"We do this every year to help promote the interest in photography, because there are not enough venues in town for people to experience what a wonderful hobby it is," said PEEP member Ernie Clyma, chairman and a judge for the contest.

Adults and children may participate in the contest, and more than 100 people are expected to enter photos.

"I want to use this contest to make some interesting art mainly to show the variety of people in El Paso," said a first-time participant, Javier Aguinaga. "It's a great way for people like me to have a way to portray our own views about our environment."

The contest levels the playing field by having all participants use the same type of disposable camera.

"People do not realize the ability of using disposable cameras," Clyma said. "It dispels fear and lets you see whether or not you have a photographic eye."

Participants are encouraged to take pictures of anything that captures their eye and of whatever they find unique in the city's outdoors.

"The beauty and fun of the contest is that anything goes, we always tell people to fill the frame with simple, but provoking images," Jim's Photo Lab manager and judge Lewis Woodyard said.

Past winners have been selected for their landscape images such as Barbara Thompson, who won for an old west photo.

"I got my photo ideas for the contest by contemplating the fact that people here don't forget about their past, you see it everywhere, contestants can use that," Thompson said.

For amateurs and first-time photographers, PEEP will have a supplemental workshop on tips for using single-use cameras to achieve desired angles for pictures.

"People think that in order to get great pictures, you need high-tech equipment, but you don't, and this contest has proven that," Clyma said.

After participants have selected their entry photos, winners will be announced at a reception at Ardovino's Desert Crossing in Sunland Park.

There will be first, second, third and fourth places as well as honorable mentions.

The winning photos will land a spot on the cover of the El Paso Scene. The other entries will be displayed through August at the Wilderness Park Museum.