Leader Publications is inviting its readers to give it their best shot.

The Niles-based newspaper company has launched an online photo contest. Area residents are invited to submit their best and favorite pictures from 2011.

The winner of the best photo contest will win $200 in gift certificates from local businesses featured in “The Big Event” section of the Dec. 26 Leader. The two runner-ups will take home $50 in gift certificates.

Winners will be determined by an online vote.

Entries can be uploaded at leaderpub.upickem.net and will be accepted until Jan. 1. The next day voting begins for the top photo at the same website. Submissions can be viewed throughout the contest.

Submissions must include a brief description and the month the photo was taken.

Leader Publications’ staff will also select several of the photos to run in its 2011 Year in Review tab to hit newsstands Jan. 26.

“We are looking for pictures that depict the community month by month,” Publisher Michael Bennett said. “During difficult times, it’s great to be able to reflect on the good times we did have over the year.”

Entrants must be older than 13 years of age to register. The contest is sponsored by Shelton’s Farm Market in Niles. For more information, visit leaderpub.upickem.net or www.facebook.com/NilesStar.

The contest page can also be accessed at www.nilesstar.com under the “contests” tab.