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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#258: Frame of Mind

What do you think of when you hear the word "photography?" In a general sense, it involves preserving memories or documenting events — and while not everyone considers it an art form, you’ve probably snapped photos of your family, friends, or even food at some point with your phone!

With that in mind, this week’s theme focuses (no pun intended!) on photography and the stories and emotions that pictures can create.

🥇 Winner

“She Owed Nothing to Ghosts.” by Rozmarin Ideas

🏆 Winner of Contest #258

The sun was harsh today. Through the lens, the scene was black and white, harsh shadows and stark highlights. Emma adjusted the aperture to be as small as it would go, cutting out much of the glare. The relative darkness restored faint traces of flavour to the frame, revealing the detail that the sunlight had tried to hide.A family stood huddled together, centred in a flat, if competent, composition. A man, with a bright smile and dark eyes, leaning close over his children, a pair that shared his expression. Behind them stretched a vas...

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“The Camera of Tomorrow” by Ralph Aldrich

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

Ryan Perkins is a gentle, quiet thirty year old office worker who enjoys collecting antiques. He resides in New York City and is well-known among the antique dealers. However, while walking to the convenience store this afternoon, something down an alley caught his eye. He notices three gold balls hanging over a door. Knitting his eyebrows together, he adjusts his hornrimmed glass. “ A pawnshop?” He tentatively enters the alley for a look, for he hasn’t seen that advertisement in years. ...

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“Flashes of Light” by Cameron Hagerty

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

On a July day in 1877, the Sea of Cortez began to boil. Heat swelling from the sun beating on the water for over a year would begin to drift up and mold and sculpt it into a cloud. This rising, energized water would grow in fury, as the heat increased and so did the population of possessed sea water, the droplets began to bump, and grind and smack against each other. As this rowdy brawl, we refer to as a cloud became more agitated, it grew hotter, not even realizing that it was being blown and directed by the wind. All this to say, my f...

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“See What Develops” by D.B. Thompson

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

The camera was as much his companion as it was his tool. He might only take three or four pictures in an hour. Sometimes less. So, he used a tripod these days, one almost as tall as him, and also a long snap cable that enabled him to move about.‘What do you reckon?’ he’d murmur, pacing slowly back and forth, hands clasped behind his back, clutching the snap. ‘Shall we wait a bit longer? Might the light change? Will a bird fly in do you think?’ Until eventually a calm silence descended, punctuated by a soft click when he squeezed the shutter ...

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“Countdown to Impact” by Joshua Iyo

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

The plane hums steadily, a familiar and comforting vibration that thrums through the metal hull. I sit near the open door, and the world beyond sprawls out—a plain of blues and greens. Below, the earth fans out like some vast, intricate map. I lean out a bit, my heart already quickening up with this feeling of thrill that never really goes away no matter how many jumps I've done. It is sweet, electric; a pulse in my veins. There is something rather magical about this view of the world from high up, a bird's-eye view that can connect th...

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“Blood” by Brielle Miano

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

“This one.” Nathan fished a glossy photograph out from the neat lineup spread across the plastic tablecloth. He held it up to face the stout, gray-haired vendor counting the bills in her change-box. “What’s this supposed to be?”“That one?” She hesitated, her wrinkled lips opening and closing ever so slightly. The farmers’ market hubbub—vendors gossiping with their regulars, farmers hawking their late-summer squash, toddlers begging for ice cream—covered over her gravelly Southern drawl. Here, everyone knew everyone…except Nathan had never se...

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This week's prompts

A forgotten photograph tucked away somewhere is the catalyst for an unexpected journey.

Adventure – 87 stories

Center your story around two strangers who bond over their shared love of photography.

Character – 30 stories

Write a story where a photograph could change the course of history if it’s delivered to the right (or wrong!) person.

Short Story – 32 stories

Start your story with someone who has lost everything but finds solace in photography.

Dramatic – 63 stories

A photographer captures an image of something unexplainable. What happens next?

Mystery – 75 stories

Stories

“She Owed Nothing to Ghosts.” by Rozmarin Ideas

🏆 Winner of Contest #258

The sun was harsh today. Through the lens, the scene was black and white, harsh shadows and stark highlights. Emma adjusted the aperture to be as small as it would go, cutting out much of the glare. The relative darkness restored faint traces of flavour to the frame, revealing the detail that the sunlight had tried to hide.A family stood huddled together, centred in a flat, if competent, composition. A man, with a bright smile and dark eyes, leaning close over his children, a pair that shared his expression. Behind them stretched a vas...

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“From the Catacombs” by Daniel R. Hayes

Submitted to Contest #258

(Content Warning: Violence and Gore)I open my bloodshot eyes and watch the shadows dance from the flickering torches hanging on the cold, dripping bricks. My legs and buttocks are numb, but I can’t deny the annoying sensation coming from my right hallux. I see a pair of tiny red eyes looking up at me. My mind screams in silent terror as a piece of flesh is torn from just below my curved toenail. The rats are unrelenting in their quest for flesh.My long tenure in this malicious prison has eroded the cobblestone floor. Thick iron chains keep m...

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“Focused on You” by Alexis Araneta

Submitted to Contest #258

13 July 2021Dear Lucas,Yes, I know. How did I find out your name?Look, I’m so sorry. I know this may sound a little strange. Part of me wonders if I should just leave this letter in the shadows, shutter off any attempts to approach you before I embarrass myself. I can’t help it, though. Like a moth drawn towards a beam of Klieg lights, I discovered that my entire being just has to hover around you. Ever since I saw your stunning hazel eyes in a post from 2017 on your blog “Frames”, they have been constantly playing in my mind like a slidesho...

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“The way rain changes the color of the sidewalk” by A.R. Eakle

Submitted to Contest #258

I was in the park taking a picture of an oak tree from a bench. I had my elbow firmly planted on my thigh; the heavy lens cupped in the palm of my hand and trying to wait for the wind to blow the leaves and branches in just the right way. I wasn’t paying attention to anything else. I snapped the shot. It wasn’t until afterwards that I noticed the woman in the yellow dress that was just on the edge of my shot taking a picture of the exact same tree. At first, I was irritated. Then I looked up from my camera and watched her. I decided to walk ...

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“The Train” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #258

I feel I spent a lifetime on this train.Enlessly being jostled from side to side. Blindly staring at the scenery through dirty windows. Startled by a sudden whistle blast announcing a tunnel, then squinting against the hazy yellow sun. Occasionally all is obscured by the billowing white smoke from the engine. Dozens of unwashed bodies. Fragrant and pungent food shared with neighbors and whining children. Cigarettes, joints, pipes, and drink handed around with a wink and a smile. Voices sharing news and gossip, whispers, and giggles. A young ...

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“Day the World Changed” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #258

Day the World ChangedKelly barely arrived at work when news started breaking of a terrible accident that involved an inferno in the crowded downtown. She instinctively grabbed her camera gear and headed out into the fray. Chaos reigned as some pedestrians and vehicle traffic ran toward the source to rubberneck what was happening while others ran the opposite direction in fear of what was happening. What was happening? Nobody seemed to know for sure beyond the bone-jarring crash they heard and acrid black smoke billowing upward.Being a profes...

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“The Heist Connoisseur” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #258

I exited the World of Coca-Cola at 2:19 p.m. No sweat, no fear. After all, I've stolen from the greatest museums in the world. That said, my pocket did feel heavier—the one with my phone, which contained a picture of the original Coca-Cola secret formula. Only two senior executives know the formula entirely at any given time. It's that secret. Well, now there are three. I crossed Baker Street onto Centennial Olympic Park. I scanned without appearing to scan and noticed two men in black suits. I increased my pace without drawing attention to ...

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“Fifteen Faces” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #258

The poster was torn and tattered. It was time to make the rounds again, pulling down the old, weathered flyers and replacing them with crisp new images. Perhaps changing from black and white to color would bring the photos to life, reminding the public that they are still out there. More than just faces on poles, they are children desperately needing to be found and brought home. The prospect of this new project brought me a small degree of comfort. Doing something, anything, was better than doing nothing at all. Thirty ...

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“A Life Well Lived” by Karen Hope

Submitted to Contest #258

Sophie had moved many times during her life: as a child, twice as a young adult, as a newlywed, and later as a new mother purchasing a forever home with her husband and young family. But there was no such thing as forever, and she was now making what would certainly be her final move. They called it an adult living community, with classes and activities and a cozy apartment that was clean and bright and perfect for one person. But it was attached to what they called a skilled nursing facility, and Sophie was keenly aware that this move was t...

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“The Camera of Tomorrow” by Ralph Aldrich

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #258

Ryan Perkins is a gentle, quiet thirty year old office worker who enjoys collecting antiques. He resides in New York City and is well-known among the antique dealers. However, while walking to the convenience store this afternoon, something down an alley caught his eye. He notices three gold balls hanging over a door. Knitting his eyebrows together, he adjusts his hornrimmed glass. “ A pawnshop?” He tentatively enters the alley for a look, for he hasn’t seen that advertisement in years. ...

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“A Winter Bridge” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #258

It was after nine when I arrived. He left the door open for me, but all the lights were off. A bag of the coffee I like was on the counter. The apartment used to be a boathouse, and it maintains its shape. Inside, there’s a living room with an open kitchen. That’s where the coffee waits. Two sliding doors separate the bedroom from the rest of the residence. I find the bathroom to be especially spacious considering how small the rest of the place is. Its shining gem is the window looking out on the bay. When he’s here in the summer, we never ...

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“The Photograph” by Arthur Ni

Submitted to Contest #258

TRIGGER WARNING: Mental Health Issues, Suicide or Self Harm.Finding happiness after tragedy is a challenge. Some have no issues, others struggle and it doesn't get easier. Jon Fredrickson lost his wife in a tragic car accident three years prior. Obviously tragic as he lost his wife, but tragic in the sense that she didn't do anything wrong. No one really did anything wrong. Perhaps it was due to the weather, an animal that ran out in front of her, or bad luck. It happens, there isn't anyone to blame. Shouldn't blame the dead, that's hardly f...

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“Thunder ” by Danielle LeBlanc

Submitted to Contest #258

I once embraced the “starving artist” cliché wholeheartedly, belting out endless raspy laments in dive bars. Before dawn, I’d scrub grungy toilets, often cursing my talents on hands and knees, only to sling skunky pints until 2 am.That’s why when a prophetic, black and white image from 1978—four years ahead of our present day in 1974—found its way to me, my eyes were like lightning bolts striking the earth.The photo in question was a picture of me and my band, one that up until later that night, wasn’t even official yet. I nipped the corner ...

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“ECHOES OF NIKUMARORO” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #258

August 10, 1937.Island of Nikumaroro, Phoenix Islands, Republic of Kiribati In the heart of the Pacific, where the horizon meets the endless expanse of blue, lies the enigmatic island of Nikumaroro. The salty breeze whispered tales of lost souls and forgotten dreams, and the rustling palm fronds sang a song of mysteries long buried beneath the sands. Amelia stood at the lagoon's edge, her aviator jacket worn and frayed, the leather soft from countless hours in the cockpit. The setting sun cast an amber glow on the water, turning it into a s...

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“The Treehouse Family of the Mystical Coast ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #258

Sonya looked out from the porch of her family’s treehouse home. It rested high above the forest floor in a giant Douglas Fir.Then she nodded to her brother, Terence, who walked across the wooden bridge to the porch, from another treehouse in a neighboring tree."That smells delicious," she said to Ezra, her father, who was climbing the wooden steps that wound around the huge tree trunk. He carried hot coffee and cornmeal cakes, baked over the campfire on the ground.Today they would take more photos.It all began several years ago.*****On a sun...

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$250

Prize money

287

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 12, 2024 EST

Won by Rozmarin Ideas 🏆

Title: She Owed Nothing to Ghosts.

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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