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#144: Take a Picture, It'll Last Longer

Whether you pose happily or are a serial camera dodger, there are probably some photographs you treasure. Photos are a way of connecting us with our past, capturing a special memory, or even giving us a peek into each other’s lives — albeit through a filter.

This week’s stories explore the unique art of photography, and how it impacts our lives in big ways, and tiny ones.

This week's prompts

Start your story with somebody taking a photo.

Adventure – 75 stories

Write a story about a wedding photographer.

Valentine's Day – 31 stories

A character finds an old roll of film, and takes it to be developed. What do they find?

Middle School – 45 stories

Write about a character who’s pathologically camera shy.

Character – 21 stories

Write a story that centres around an Instagram post.

High School – 20 stories

Stories

“Picture of Love” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #144

Cheryl Swanson is a photographer for all special occasions, but weddings are her favorite of all events to capture. It was mid-July, and the sun was beating down upon the bridal party as they crossed Floral Gardens, a popular location for wedding photographs. Iris flowers bloomed in brilliant purple, blue, and yellow around a small waterfall that was situated in the background between two weeping willow trees. T...

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“The Nature of the Job” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #144

The Nature of the Job Jack’s Thoughts Jack was in his car, almost at his destination, and he was muttering to himself: ‘So I wanted to become this great nature photographer, but I end up, weekend after weekend, if I’m lucky, being a wedding photographer. At least the site of this wedding could be a beautiful one, a park between a forest and a lake. If I’m lucky, I might be able to see and photograph a deer or some other animal that has natural beauty, not the manufactured looks of the members of your typical wedding party.’ &nbs...

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“The Wedding Photographer” by Seshadri S

Submitted to Contest #144

There were days I would return from my long photographic expeditions during monsoon times soaked in heaven sent rain. I would wear the most fabulous smile a person ever wore, radiating with that joy inner passions bring. Photography was my passion. Soon after coming home, I would carefully select the best ones and convert them into videos. I would plug-in lilting instrumental music and post them on Youtube. I had a considerable following. I felt triumphant, the man and the camera: Mother Nature and her humble servant. I became a much so...

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“A Warm Summer Wedding” by Taylor Alishouse

Submitted to Contest #144

The sun warmed my back as it streamed in through the latticework. I looked above my head, through the greenery. Lighting shouldn’t be an issue from this angle, even with the sun directly above us. The arch had been homemade by the bride’s aunt, a middle-aged woman with no children of her own. It had taken her three months to paint the structure, wrap it in fairy lights, and intricately design and attach a variety of flowers and leaves to its entirety. It stood in front of a growing crowd of guests, all dressed in their Sunday best, a...

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“Developed Conspiracy” by Don Money

Submitted to Contest #144

“She sure is a beauty,” Tuck Emberson said, his hands running along the gleaming red hood, “a ‘63 you say?” “Yep.” I replied, “Ever since I was eighteen I always wanted to own a 1963 Impala, just took 30 years to get one.” Tuck jumped back in, “She is a real good looking car, how does she run?” “She doesn’t. The lady I bought her from said the car has been sitting in her detached garage since late 1963,” I tell Tuck. “She said it belonged to her brother and he went missing around Thanksgiving of that year.” “I can’t believe you stumbled ...

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“Earl” by Chris Grevemberg

Submitted to Contest #144

Life seemed great until I got busted smoking a little weed. My friends and I just finished playing some hoops when—Bam! The cops showed up and started hassling me over a single joint and a dime bag. It was my first offense, but that didn’t stop the judge from being all high and mighty. He told me the usual crap about straitening up and flying right. Who the hell is he? I’ve been around the block long enough to know what I can and can’t do. The last thing I needed was advice from some old man in a black robe. Regardless, my ru...

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“I Know Who I Am” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #144

Phillip Lavender eases into his chair, hoping its plush cushioning will inspire him to tear into his long-overdue review of the architectural plans for his client’s summer home. Pushing the chair closer to the computer screen, Phillip feels something scrape against his left knee. Looking underneath the desk, he sees an envelope taped to its side. Opening the envelope, he finds an undeveloped roll of film and a n...

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“Monotony, Spontaneity” by Kate Lewis

Submitted to Contest #144

My mom was a quiet woman. Her composure was always stoic, and she made sure to keep me and my siblings in a straight, well-kept line. She went to her 9-5 job every day where she worked in human resources. Dealt with work conflicts, rules, and unhappy customers every single day. Started each morning at 7:00 am with a cup of coffee with a splash of cream and oatmeal with brown sugar and berries. Her life was a well-practiced routine. I only saw her break it when we went on vacation or someone had a soccer game or a doctor’s appointment. S...

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“Captured Freedom” by Carmen Lee

Submitted to Contest #144

A 35MM camera can hold about 36 photos. Pictures are worth 1,000 words. This means a roll of film has the potential to hold 36,000 words. That’s like a chapter in a book. Or a chapter in a life. But what if that roll of film isn’t yours, and it’s supposed to be a chapter in someone else's life?I used to wonder how many photos I had been in where I didn't belong. How many times have I been captured in someone else’s moments? You figure that you have inadvertently ended up in the backdrop of someone else’s life at least a few dozen times....

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“The Family Secret” by Bill Bergeman

Submitted to Contest #144

Elizabeth gently opens the ceiling door to enter the attic. The rickety sound of the long-unused hinges sends a shiver up her spine and only antagonizes her jittery nerves. Grateful to have finally pulled the door all the way open, she pulls the ladder down from the attic and places her foot on the first rung. Pausing for a moment, she gathers her strength. "I am strong. I am not afraid." The mantra rings in her ears. Looking upward, she begins to climb. The first thing she notices is nothing spooky at al...

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“Made for you” by Wayne Cole

Submitted to Contest #144

Finding my old leather jacket at the back of my closet was like finding a piece of myself lost long ago. After twenty years, and more pounds than I care to admit, I did not expect it to still fit. My arms slid into the sleeves and the weight came to rest on my shoulders. The jacket that once defined my fashion fit better than I would have dared dream. I stood in front of the mirror and wondered if the person I had become still fit it as well as it fit my body. Memories felt like both a weight holding me down, and a r...

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“Worth more than a thousand words” by Max Weihe

Submitted to Contest #144

Thud! A cardboard box from the attic hits the floor of the garage. A cloud of dust circles around the room. “Hey, easy there” says Charles as he enters the garage with a freshly cracked beer in one hand. The remainder of the six pack rests with the other hand on the side of his protruding belly. He takes a hefty swig of his ale. Droplets spill from his beard onto his Hawaiian shirt. Behind him enters Cynthia with her long silver hair down to her waist. She towers a good foot over her older brother. Despite their height diff...

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“That Day” by Mario Owens II

Submitted to Contest #144

That Day A giant shark named Hank once lived in a large big yellow ocean. Unlike most sharks that only eat every two to three days, Hank has to eat once a day to maintain his massive size. Hank comes from a family of large sharks by which they were known all over the Yellow Ocean as the family that originated from Mammoth Underwater World. The Mammoth Underwater world is an area located near the center of the earth where it is known that all sharks from this area overate. This makes it impossible for Hank's family to be a standard size. Ha...

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“Smile for the Camera” by Stephen Hockenbarger

Submitted to Contest #144

Orville was staring into the crashing waves, trying desperately to remember his dreams from last night. It was no use. Like every night, he felt it passed all too quickly in a fevered blur and in his waking moments felt no more rested than he had when his head hit the pillow the night before. The monotonous sound of water on rocks quieted his thoughts and allowed him to focus on his dreams. “Excuse me?”, a man’s voice injected in his mind sharply. “Excuse me, sir?” Turning his head, Orville saw a young man with his wife standing next to hi...

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“Resolutions and Social Networks” by Gustavo Reyes

Submitted to Contest #144

It was April already, and his New year’s resolutions were nowhere near to be completed: meet somebody new, exercise more, try something that scares you. Scratch that first one, won’t you? Meet somebody new? Say hi to the guy who sells coffee by the park, say “nice to meet you”, and there you go. What a joke. No: “Make more friends” is better, more solid. More challenging. Sitting in front of his computer, working from home since the covid-19 pandemic started, staring at his note taking app that holded his recently updated “New year'...

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$250

Prize money

192

Contest entries

114

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 06, 2022 EST

Won by Rebekah Jordan 🏆

Title: Unseen

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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