NATCHEZ &8212; A city visited by thousands each year, Natchez may be one of the most photographed cities in the Deep South.

That thought prompted members of the Downtown Development Association to challenge hometown shutterbugs to a picture contest starting today, said Tammi Gardner, DDA director.

&8220;We want people to look around and find what says downtown Natchez to them,&8221; Gardner said.

The contest will be general this year, moving into themes in years to come, she said.

Brett Brinegar, grant writer for the city and a DDA member, is chairman of the contest.

&8220;The pictures can be anything, anywhere downtown &8212; the bluff, buildings, parades or the balloon festival.&8221;

The pictures may be taken now or may be pictures taken in the recent past by photographers, Brinegar said.

Winning photographs will be included in a large calendar, printed in color, with a photo for each month and one photo each for the front and back covers.

Winners will not receive prizes but will get credit for their photos within the calendar.

Brinegar said the deadline for submitting photographs is Aug. 1. She hopes the calendars can be published before the Art & Soul event in late September or, at the very latest, by the time of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race in October.

Proceeds from sale of the calendars will go to downtown beautification projects, Gardner said.

Rules for the contest are simple. Anyone may enter. Photos should be in color, one to four entries per person allowed; and photos must be submitted as 5-by-7 prints and on a CD. Each photographer should put name, address, phone and e-mail address on each print included in the entry.

Downtown Development Association offices are in the Institute building, 108 S. Commerce St. Mail entries or take them to the DDA.

More information is available by calling Gardner at the DDA office, 601-442-2929.