Photography, Nature Art, May & June Prompt
Nature Art: May & June Prompt
Spring Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Nature Art”
Five rocks to stand tall, proud.
During my walks, I often see inukshuks scattered along the seawall or beach built by locals. I don’t know how the artists balance the rocks precisely without them tumbling but I imagine there is a certain degree of intuition, focus, patience, love, and science that inspires the creation.
To me, the photo featured above is a true representation of “Nature Art.”
I have a strong sense that this will become one of the most interactive, popular challenges for participating writers — which is why I’m extending this challenge over two spring months (May & June). This idea has been brewing in my mind since last summer and now is the time to share it.
I’m inviting you to explore the outdoors to create nature art with your hands and imagination without destroying the environment, or simply take time to observe nature art. Having made different nature art creations myself over the last decade, I find that the process is therapeutic, wondrous, and satisfying.
The Spring (May & June) Challenge is “Nature Art”
The concept is to take a photo that combines nature with an artful element that has been created by a human. Think “human artist and the environment.” Please read about the Definition, Expectations & Rules of the “Nature Art” Challenge below.
My Definition of “Nature Art”
- It’s something you can create alone in a few seconds, minutes, or however long it takes, or maybe it’s a playful afternoon with the kids — that represents nature with a touch of human interaction.
- It’s something you enjoyed the process of building and then walk away from it — knowing it won’t last.
- It’s something that may have been created by someone else that made you stop, observe, appreciate — and take a photo — because of its beauty.
- It is a representation of how humans interact with nature in an artistic, creative way — without destroying the environment.
- It’s something that may represent or symbolize something meaningful to you or simply gives you joy through the process of creation and play.
“Nature Art” Expectations:
Please read thoroughly as different expectations apply to each monthly challenge!
- The “nature art” is something meant to be temporary and not permanent. It could be easily knocked down, washed away, vanished by the elements of weather, or torn down by another person/passerby/animal. Examples: stick fort at the beach, rock tower, snowperson.
- The “nature art” occurs in nature — outside in the natural environment.
- The “nature art” must be created by yourself OR created by someone else. You may have noticed that person creating it or saw the creation long afterward during your observations while being outside. It must have a human element to it — meaning a person has worked with the natural material to create the piece.
- The materials of the “nature art” that YOU create (or nature art created by others) must be made of natural elements and discovered during the natural course of your explorations outside. Examples: rocks, sticks, wood, sand, snow, grass, leaves, flowers, plants, shadows, sun reflections, etc.
- Nothing can be store-bought for this challenge, including “tools.” If you need a tool to create your artwork, you need to use your hands, feet, body parts, sticks, rocks, shells, or whatever “nature tool” is available to you in your immediate surroundings at your nature spot.
NOTE: I’m NOT looking for traditional paintings or drawings, permanent sculptures, chalkboard drawings, or professional flower arrangements in store-bought vases.
I’m looking for beauty, nature, and simplicity — made by hand — which was “created for the moment only”, not meant to last, or harm the environment.
Can you publish a photo that represents “Nature Art” and tell a story about it in six words?
“Nature Art” Challenge Rules
Please read thoroughly! I’m particular about formatting.
- The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED) and please include a photo credit.
- Title: Choose your own title.
- For your subtitle: Please use Spring Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Nature Art” (like the subtitle used in this article.) Once you have written your subtitle, remember to highlight it and click on the small “T” to format it correctly. Note: This challenge will run in May and June 2022.
- Please tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge.
- Only ONE PHOTO can be featured in your story and it must be placed ABOVE the title and subtitle. Your photo must be the first thing I see when I view your submission.
- The photo must feature “nature art.” If you want to be included in the photo with nature art, the only person that can be featured in the photo is YOURSELF. Photos of people other than yourself are NOT ALLOWED. See this article for legal reasons why.
- The story must only be six words. Once you write your six word story, highlight it and click on the small “T” to format the six words. This is so your six words stand out; it’s a formatting guideline that is unique to this publication.
- OPTIONAL: IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
- The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your six word story AND your backstory (IF you included a backstory.) If you don’t know how to do this, view the formatting guidelines linked below.
- The entire reading time of your story must be no longer than 2 minutes! This includes the photo, six word story, any tags, links, or promotion of yourself or other stories. This is the only thing I check for when I review submissions. I don’t do word counts. If your submission comes in as 3-min read or more, it will be unread and rejected.
- Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
For formatting step-by-step instructions (these are unique to this publication), see Formatting Your Six Word Photo Story.
The “Nature Art” challenge is open for submissions from Sunday, May 1, and closes Thursday, June 30, 2022, at NOON, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.
NOTE: Stories not formatted correctly, don’t follow rules, or that require edits will delay publication or may not be accepted. Formatting guidelines are unique to this publication — please read them thoroughly. If you’d like to be added as a writer and submit to Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication, please read and follow the submission guidelines.
It’s time to go outside, play & create!
Grab those cameras or dig into your archives — you may be empowered and surprised at how satisfying it is to create “nature art.” Embrace the power of nature play. See what you can create, explore and play with. Be creative, unusual, and playful.
I see stick forts, sand sculptures, rock and leaf formations, water play, shadows — what do you see?
Wait! I have a special announcement: Introducing Guest Co-Editor, Vidya Sury!
Since the launching of this publication in September, which was inspired by the crazy popular Six Word Photo Story Summer Challenge writing prompt, your sole editor has been super busy working with submissions! As you know, Ellie Jacobson was the first guest editor I invited to join me for March’s “Pet People” challenge, and then Sandi Parsons joined as a guest editor for April’s “Graffiti & Street Art Challenge.”
I’m grateful that Ellie and Sandi will be continuing on for the months of May and June.
I’m happy to introduce another guest editor for the months of May & June— Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles! You may be familiar with Vidya’s writing, her ability to make people smile, and how she has this awesome ability to make you feel supported — as if she knows you personally. One of my favorite stories Vidya wrote is Ten Things. I swear you’ll want to meet this woman in person and hang out with her after you read it!
Vidya is an editor with Coffee Times, Illumination Integrated Publications, and Dancing Elephants Press. After a couple of decades in the corporate world, she’s living her dream as a writer, manuscript editor, and blogger. With six blogs of her own, she enjoys writing about self-improvement, mindfulness, parenting, travel, health and wellness, diabetes, food, and books. She loves coffee, photography, cooking, kids, DIY, and music. On really busy days, her free time is restricted to playing with her dust bunnies and showing her diabetes who’s boss. Her goal in life is to improve the lives of underprivileged children. Her blogging income and a portion of her writing income are dedicated to supporting children’s welfare homes, Schools for the Blind, and Homes for the Aged.
Vidya is a regular contributor to Six Word Photo Story Challenge (and loves the publication!) a good writer, consistently engages with the readers and writers of this publication, and is an amazing cheerleader in the Medium world.
I’m grateful Vidya welcomed this opportunity and Ellie Jacobson, Sandi Parsons and I are excited to be working with her this month! Please say hello to Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, read her stories, follow her and her blogs at Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Your Med Guide, Coffee With Mi, Cooking With Mi, Life Hacks for Diabetics, and Life Hacks for Happiness.
Freestyle Stories
You also have the option to write a six-word photo story featuring a photo and topic of your own choosing — as long as the photo and story are connected in some way. The story doesn’t need to be related to the monthly challenge prompt. For your subtitle: Please use your own subtitle followed by the word: Freestyle OR use Six Word Photo Story: Freestyle. Please tag your story using this tag: Freestyle.
Submissions are always open for Freestyle stories.
On writing your Six Word Photo Story
Read and follow the submission guidelines. If your story requires any edits or doesn’t meet guidelines, it will delay publication and may not be accepted. If you’d like to be added as a writer and submit to Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication, please read and follow the submission guidelines.
About the Writer
Mary Chang is an award-winning short story fiction writer, memoir writer, blogger, and editor of the Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication — inspired by her original 6-Word Photo Story Summer Challenge writing prompt (2021) on Medium.
She’s also a parent, fitness, and photography enthusiast — and loves creating monthly challenges.
Fueled by cartwheels, laughter, and encouraging people to shine. Read her blog at www.marychangstorywriter.com
