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Five local photographers, including Western Washington University student Tomas Calderon, will be honored for submitting winning images to the 2014 Essence of Bellingham Photo Competition.

Their photos were among more than 200 images submitted by area residents for the ninth annual competition, sponsored by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum.

The winning entries and others submitted to the competition and will be displayed on the City's . Eighty entries receiving recognition also will be displayed at Bellingham City Hall June 1-25, with a reception planned 6-8:30 p.m. June 6 during the .

Entries receiving highest honors:

• Best of Show/First Place (Amateur):
• Best of Show/Second Place (College):
• Best of Show/Third Place (Professional):
• Best of Class/5th Grade - 8th Grade:
• Best of Class/9th Grade - 12th Grade:

The annual photo competition is a low-cost way to celebrate Bellingham, preserve photos as historic records of our times and engage people in their community. Photos submitted to the competition are displayed in various ways today and preserved by the Whatcom Museum for future generations to enjoy.

The entries submitted this year were juried by representatives from the Whatcom Museum, the Bellingham Arts Commission and the City of Bellingham. Winning entries are selected based on photographic quality, subject matter and how well the "essence" of Bellingham is captured.

The Essence of Bellingham photo competition is an annual event. Community members are invited to begin snapping photos now to enter in next year's competition. For more information about the competition, visit .