Photography contest aims to highlight downtown

The "Capture Downtown!" photo competition is being held for professional and amateur photographers who are 21 and older.

Contest categories include lifestyle, depicting everyday life and play downtown; stars, depicting interesting people who live and work downtown; and icons, depicting downtown landmarks.

The winners of the competition will be announced in October during the Symphony Park lecture at the historic Fifth Street School. Entries will be posted Sept. 1 through Sept. 22 at www.lvrj.com.

A panel consisting of photographers and photography experts from Southern Nevada will determine first, second and third place for each category.

Prizes for winners will range from packages of complimentary drinks and meals at downtown bars and restaurants to gift certificates to downtown hotels and retailers.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said in a statement the competition is meant to highlight downtown's charm and recent changes. "There is new vitality downtown given the many businesses and landmark projects filling the skyline," Goodman said. "A photo competition is the perfect way to celebrate the progress of downtown redevelopment and capture the people, places and things that are converging to create new energy in our city."

The entry deadline is Aug. 15. Entries must be submitted digitally to www.downtownlasvegasalliance.com/ capturedowntown/.

The competition is sponsored by the city of Las Vegas, the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance, Symphony Park and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.