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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.

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

“Today we present” by Irving Soto

Submitted to Contest #258

There are occasions when the reality defies reason, were the inexplicable is the only explanation, and the ending is rarely happy. If you’re a fan of the unknown, the strange, and the dark, then let me tell you, you arrive at the best place, because this is Dr. Dread’s dark dairy. Today we present:A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. August 24, 2005 was the date when Dr. Alonso Puentes examined the victim. He had bruises all over his body, but they were not the cause of death. He was about 32 years old, single, a photographer, fairly well known...

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“The Mysterious Man in the Photograph” by Laura Lockridge

Submitted to Contest #258

I am dog-tired as I stretch my aching legs before me on the chaise lounge. It is already 6 o’clock and I have not even thought about supper yet. I consider my achy bones and bunched-up muscles as I ponder whether making dinner for one is worth it. As I procrastinate, images of refrigerator contents float through my foggy brain. I could always warm up some left-over Lasagna and those Italian Green Beans my mom gave me from her perfect, oversized garden. Unconsciously, I groan as I make my unsteady way to the darkened kitchen on the other side...

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“A Mysterious Photo” by Bruce Hunter

Submitted to Contest #258

Dave and Susan were sitting at the dining table. They were discussing a trip they were about to embark on. A trip to Dubbo. Their son Mark was now living there with his fiancée, Caroline, and they were getting married in a week. Susan’s phone beeped letting her know she had just received an email. It was from Mark; he had sent several photos. One of the photos was of Mark and Caroline standing in front of a large weather board house. “Oh, this a great picture of the Mark and Caroline.” Susan said as she showed the phone to Dave. Dave looked ...

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“Dreaming of You” by C.J. Carlin

Submitted to Contest #258

“This is ghoulish,” my sister said, from somewhere in the dimness of the attic.I had been flipping through an old photo album, my mind a million miles away. “What is?” I asked.“Grandma isn’t even dead yet and we’re already going through her things, dividing it up and acting like it’s ours already.”“Let’s be realistic,” I offered. “We know she may only have a couple weeks, if that. Would you prefer we did this after the funeral, when everyone is depressed?”“It just seems wrong to-“ Jules stopped suddenly, and I looked up. She was holding a pa...

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“Out There” by Angie Lucas

Submitted to Contest #258

Easton was a large, thriving community that rarely experienced any conflict, hardship, or pain. Every one of its nearly 2,000 residents contributed equally to the building and maintenance of the village, which was a testament to the overall harmony they enjoyed together. Most had moved to Easton to get away from the evils of the world, and sometime over the past decade, decided that total isolation was the only way to truly achieve the peace they so desperately longed for. When a young woman named Rachelle was disowned by her family and cast...

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“A Forgotten Memory” by WR Peden

Submitted to Contest #258

  As I carried a box of my grandmother's belongings into the house, a wave of loss and nostalgia swept over me. Despite a few days having passed since the funeral, the reality of it still felt surreal. My grandma had been such a significant part of my life, and now her absence left the house filled with emptiness and echoes of the past.  The movers had transported stacks of boxes from her house to mine, and I faced a full week of sorting through them. I was unprepared for the emotional turmoil that awaited.  Eac...

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“The Last Sunset” by Shahnaz T.M

Submitted to Contest #258

Trigger warning: Violence, drugs and suicide Morris looked into the distance and saw the city skyline as it rose from the bay, built on the very dirt and grime that plagued its entrails. He puffed on his smelly cigar and watched as the bin men cleaned out the streets, hauling those meaty trash bags full of vice and knew that as hard as they tried they couldn't clean the guilty conscience out of this sinful city. He bent down to tie his shoelace, covered in mud. The glaring moonlight reflected his bruised knuckles that were smeared with blood...

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“Not dead” by Laura Camacho Frias

Submitted to Contest #258

It all started a year ago when my grandfather returned from the world of the dead. To be fair, he had never died, "just" disappeared, but for my mother, who saw him convulse in a hospital bed until the flatline appeared and lived without him for decades, both things were the same: he was lost and dead... Twelve months ago, my mother argued with my grandmother during a phone call, which was nothing new but triggered an unexpected event. Who would have told us, her close family, children, and husband, that a discussion about good manners wou...

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“I Know a Way Out of Hell” by Lois Corey

Submitted to Contest #258

I have come home but not come home. I have buried my medal, letters, and mementos at the bottom of a crumpled cardboard box, in the bottom of a drawer in an unsuccessful attempt to leave the battlefield behind. But I am still there. The days pass by. Months go by. Surrounded by stale pizza boxes and empty beer bottles, still in a drunken haze, I flop once again in front of the TV. I mindlessly flick the remote and start watching a movie, “Ghandi.”   I am transfixed. Toward the end, there is a scene that hits me like a cannonb...

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“The Missing Chronicle” by Richard Hutchinson

Submitted to Contest #258

While Garth was on his way to school, his attention was caught as he noticed that through the strong gust of wind, a piece of what appeared to be paper, flew across from his face and into a bush. Normally there shouldn't be any sort of reason or concern to check on what exactly it is but nonetheless he was intrigued. He goes over to the bush and takes out the paper between the leaves. To his surprise it looked to be a photo. There was something strange with this item though. Garth tried his best to rationalize that the photo he had picked up...

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“The Runner” by Claudeen Krause

Submitted to Contest #258

The Runner Jessica drapes the new scarf around her mother's shoulders and notices the slight twitches at her mouth corners suggesting a smile. The only time her mother's eyes light up nowadays is when she sees the porter, Charles, who often stops by her for a friendly chat. He also doesn't seem to mind that she calls him Steven. A car accident, just over a year ago, left her mom with seemingly permanent memory loss and claimed her father's life. Jessica's weekly visits to the care facility often serve as a reminder of how little sh...

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“"Need A Picture"” by Stephvon Dames

Submitted to Contest #258

It's another day at Snap First Bugle, and the boss calls his two newbies. Carla and Molly, intern photographers at a famous magazine, competed for the same job. The renowned and brilliant editor Rachel gave them the task of capturing the ideal image of the bustling city streets. Delivering guarantees a job. In confusion, the two looked at each other and asked, "Why do I have to do it with her?" Miss Rachel told them to ask one question at a time. Carla says, "Miss Rachel, I already have my own group with Bob and Harry." Molly replies, "Exact...

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“Shutters of War” by Matt Craig

Submitted to Contest #258

Perched atop the scarred husk of a military vehicle, I squinted against the glare of the relentless Central African sun. Its scorching fingers pried into every crevice of the desolate village below—a place once teeming with life, now just a skeleton of smoldering ruins. Through my lens, the silence was haunting and stood in contrast to the chaos of war that had engulfed this place just hours earlier. Clicking my camera methodically, I aimed to capture the ghostly stillness. From my vantage point, I caught sight of Andie, her silhouette barel...

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“All My Love” by Bekah Wren

Submitted to Contest #258

Trigger Warning: Suicidal Thoughts - It was just a photograph. A moment caught in time that would be forever preserved in shades of gray and white.  So why did it feel like the whole world depended on its existence? Kathy’s heels clicked against the concrete with urgency in every step. She glanced at her watch, frowning as the long hand crept closer to that ominous number seven. She closed her jacket, fingers trembling as she fastened the buttons against the icy winds. Anyone in their right mind would rush to take a cab back to their ap...

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“"The Photographer's Dilemma"” by Stephvon Dames

Submitted to Contest #258

At 11:50 p.m., in London, a young woman searched for the location where the note she received came from. The note says, "Meet me alone at the old clock tower at midnight." The mysterious voice crackled over the phone. As the man hurriedly scoured the city, his heart pounded with excitement and trepidation. Thoughts raced through his mind, wondering who was behind the mysterious note and what awaited him in the old clock tower. Emma Clay felt a chill run down her spine as she clutched the precious photograph called Moe. Her grandfather was a ...

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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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