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

Posted in Mystery on Jul 5, 2024

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✍️ 75 stories

“A Thousand Words” by Matthias Paulus

Submitted to Contest #258

Photography. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Memories frozen in time, moments of joy and sorrow captured forever. For some, it’s an art form, a way to express themselves and see the world through a different lens. For others, it’s a means to document life’s events, big and small. I’ve always thought of photography as something special, a way to keep the past alive. Until I found that picture. That picture changed everything. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I stumbled upon it. I was rummaging through the attic, looking for ...

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“SAY CHEESE” by Cindy Thompson

Submitted to Contest #258

‘Say Cheese’ Pictures don’t lie!Angi, a 38-year-old Executive loves her job, garden and husband is confronted with a life dilemma. To put it mildly, she’s screwed. Nothing has prepared for what’s happening. An emotional horror story is unfolding. She feels black and blue all over. Her 17th anniversary is tomorrow. Her husband, her partner in life and love, is M.I.A. She hasn’t told anyone about the missing man because she can’t. “I’ll say something when I must, eventually,” she tells herself. What will she say?...

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“Negative Impression” by Tracy Aspel

Submitted to Contest #258

Terry hated posing photos. It didn’t matter if it was a wedding, birthday or extremely rare family reunion, Terry did her level best to be the one snapping the shot, or to be on an extended toilet visit when the picture was being taken. Her mother Claire was obsessed with making memories. These memory-worthy moments ranged from the first days of school to being posed beside an unusually fat pigeon. Terry’s older sister Florence went along with it and flashed her crooked grin with the same warped enthusiasm that her mother had while Claire fi...

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“Visions of valleys” by Maya Williams

Submitted to Contest #258

I peered through the viewfinder, encasing the vista within my shot. The air was still and stifling. I paused, taking in the rolling valleys, barns, and farmhouses, with my finger on the button as though it were a trigger. Every picture on this thing is money spent, money I don't have. I have to be exact. I dropped the camera from my face and let it dangle around my neck. The trees here are deceptively lush on the river roars, abundant with fish as though this were that kind of place. I'm not sure of the kind of place this is. Everything abou...

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“Journey's End” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #258

Ivan steered the beautifully smooth Mercedes E220 between the close kerbs of the single-track lane that led to the Long House, slowing for speed bumps and potholes, mindful of the fine machine’s low profile tyres and lean ground clearance. The car seemed to get smoother and quieter every mile he drove it. Right now, it was a few minutes after seven thirty in the evening. The early July Solway sun shone golden from a clear blue sky. The six-hour drive from south-west London had been the easiest he could remember in more than thirty years on t...

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““I’ll know it when I find it.”” by WM .

Submitted to Contest #258

My father never had a problem with patience, he made it look easy. The anticipation of finding something worth having seemed to keep him calm. He was so cool. I followed in his footsteps. My vision was never the best, but I had an eye for details. Mom said that’s how you find God, so I practiced daily. Indeed, it is a virtue. For years I adjusted my lens, and toggled my viewfinder, all in search of something. He was the photographer for all of our family reunions. He had this phrase that he would say over and over again before shooting...

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“Staring Back At Me” by Ilse Leen

Submitted to Contest #258

When I open the folder, there is only one photo in there. Weird. There should've been hundreds of tiny squares. What happened? My camera didn't display any errors this afternoon. Did I miss it? I was focused on the job, it being my first time and all. Or maybe the memory card was damaged somehow? My equipment became soaked while hanging around that putrid-smelling food cart. Crappity-crap. I really should take some waterproof bags and put more thought into my outfit when I go out next. Or, if, rather. If I ever get another assignment. Crap, ...

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“More Than Just A Camera” by Robert Obszanski

Submitted to Contest #258

After selling it Paul knew he had to have it back. He didn’t regret selling it. Even hoping he’d never see it again. It must have been in the shopkeeper’s possession only five minutes when Paul got the call. It didn’t take him more than a minute on the phone to realize what he had to do. The old camera might just save a life. For Paul and his friends, it all started over a month ago. Summer was just beginning and they had been talking about going camping far from the city. The cubicles that the three of them worked in were getting decidedly ...

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“The Garden Spy” by Robin McGrew

Submitted to Contest #258

"What you need is trail cams. Security cameras, some floodlights set on automatic, barbed-wire fencing...that'll scare 'em off good." Grandpa Al grunts at his own solution, nodding affirmatively at my garden. Or rather, the disastrous remains of my garden. Potted rosemary and parsley are smashed to smithereens, flossflower trampled into fine dust. Once robust pumpkins now lay scattered in gooey pieces over the marigold patch, and, oddly, only the bright heads of my shrub roses are gone. Every single one. Pale orange, sunset yello...

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“Fire and Life” by Todd Crickmer

Submitted to Contest #258

I don’t ever do this—well, at least not since college. I usually adhere to the three-date rule. Which, more often than not, means that it never happens. But something that night just clicked. It was a usual Friday night at Illusions. I was hanging out with several friends from work, and he was leaning against the bar, flirting with some bimbo. Ten minutes later, I had dealt with the bimbo, and he was now flirting with me. My friends tried to pull me off him, but I knew he was something special. It was hard...

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“Red Eye” by Aaron Matlock

Submitted to Contest #258

A bright flash of light and the sound of the shutter. “God I hope that is the last one”“Douglas!” My mom snaps back sharply. “You’re not usually one to complain.” “But mom, It’s so boring here! And why does the light have to be so bright?!” I say with a sigh as I look around the room at the many dark drapes and bright lights. “If you spend the whole time complaining instead of being your pleasant self it’ll take twice as long.” Mom says scolding me. I take a deep breath and smell the musty room and the slight smell of cigarettes. I rub my ey...

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“Just Special Enough” by Gio P.

Submitted to Contest #258

A name was called and her head jerked to meet the caller’s. Not hers. Duh. She clenched her fingers and stepped forward. Tens of pairs of feet stepped after her. As the cue moved, she had a funny thought: How could anyone here know her name when she had taken such precautions as to drive thirty minutes out of her way, forsaking her usual and much preferred treat, and had not even ordered so the clerk ahead would have no way of knowing her. She was being paranoid. &nb...

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“Lost within the frame” by Aria Peyton

Submitted to Contest #258

The darkroom glowed an eerie shade of red as I pegged the last of the prints on the line to dry. Despite the hundreds of photos currently downloading to my computer from my weekend in the snow-covered peaks, there was nothing quite like developing film. A certain satisfaction to having hands-on involvement.I walked the length of the room, taking in the black-and-white detail of the mountain range, the contrasts between stark white snow and grey clouds to the darkened tree line and all the shades of the leaves. My smile froze as I reached the...

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“The Hobbist” by Niara Michelle

Submitted to Contest #258

Port Village is a bustling waterfront tourist attraction. It was littered with overpriced gift shops and restaurants. Kites and RC planes stormed the late afternoon sky occasionally crashing down in front of Detective Ray Okuma. Or now just Ray Okuma for the next fourteen days. “Sorry!” Yelled the little kid as he ran over to pick up his kite. “It’s alright,” Okuma said while glancing in the direction to see the little boy’s father who was a little embarrassed that this was the fourth time his son’s cheap kite crash-landed too cl...

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“The Squids Vero” by Oscar Stein

Submitted to Contest #258

“Slay.”The shutter sound whirs loudly in the bathroom. In the farthest stall of three, Vero clicks a sharp nail into the groove on the side of her phone and turns off her ringer while she checks the image. She crops out the toilet paper dispenser and brightens the contrast to make her eyes pop. Extending her arm for another one, nose just off-left of the center axis, a heavy-lidded smize pulses above her cheeks.“Slay.” Her jaw lists to a pause at the end of the word. She pulls the phone to her chest, zooming in on th...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 75 stories

“A Thousand Words” by Matthias Paulus

“SAY CHEESE” by Cindy Thompson

“Negative Impression” by Tracy Aspel

“Visions of valleys” by Maya Williams

“Journey's End” by Rob Ryter

““I’ll know it when I find it.”” by WM .

“Staring Back At Me” by Ilse Leen

“More Than Just A Camera” by Robert Obszanski

“The Garden Spy” by Robin McGrew

“Fire and Life” by Todd Crickmer

“Red Eye” by Aaron Matlock

“Just Special Enough” by Gio P.

“Lost within the frame” by Aria Peyton

“The Hobbist” by Niara Michelle

“The Squids Vero” by Oscar Stein

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

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

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

Contest #258

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

289

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: