Photography | Shadows | Mary’s September Prompt

Shadows: September Prompt

September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shadows”

Met this alien on the beach.

I was playing with shadow photography at the beach, and when I looked at my photos, I saw that the shadow I cast resembled an alien. It’s perspective — shadows can represent different things to different human beings (and aliens). What do you see?

This publication was originally inspired by a summer writing prompt that I created during the summer of 2021 before I launched this publication on September 1, 2021. One of the writing prompts that summer was “Shadows,” and today, two years later, marks a return version of that “shadows challenge.”

The September Challenge is “Shadows” brought to you by me — Mary Chang

The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of “Shadows” in some way, whether it’s abstract or concrete, figurative or literal, physical or mental. The possibilities are endless — we’re looking for submissions with different perspectives, unusual stories, and brilliant photographs.

Please read about the Definition, Purpose & Rules of the “Shadows” Challenge below.

Possible Definitions of How to Use “Shadows” in Your Six Word Photo Story

There are countless ways to find “Shadows” in our lives. Shadows bring “sunshine and dark play” together.

1. “Shadows” can refer to something emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. What physical shadows can you cast with your body parts? What shadows have followed you that either hinder or spark your personal growth? Is there a shadow from the past that you wish to confront or bring to life?
2. “Shadows” can refer to something material. Maybe it’s the shadow of your bicycle, car, rollerblades, walking stick, or anything else that casts a shadow.
3. “Shadows” can refer to something in nature, the universe, or the life cycle. Maybe it’s the children playing with their own shadows and making shadow play or the leaves from the trees or the flowers you’re holding.
4. “Shadows!” can refer to food or drink. Maybe it’s the outline of a donut held in your hand or a bottle of wine on the table.
5. “Shadows” is YOU and your perspective. It’s something that represents the meaning of “Shadows” in some way or form, from your individual viewpoint — that connects to your photo and story.

What’s your “Shadows!” story?

The Purpose of “Shadows”

1. The “Shadows” Challenge is an intuitive self-challenge to explore what makes you reflect on how they impact your life — maybe it’s internal or external or both.
2. The “Shadows” Challenge is an investigative challenge to observe and figure out what things in your life can capture the “meaning of shadows” through photography, contemplation, and six words.
3. The “Shadows” Challenge is designed for YOU and your perspective.

Can you take a photo that represents “Shadows” and tell a story about it in six words?

“Shadows” Challenge Rules

Guidelines, Formatting & How to Submit

Note: These apply to ALL stories in this publication. I know it may seem like a lot, but once you’ve submitted your first story to our pub, it’s easy to duplicate the formatting style!

Note: This challenge will run from Friday, September 1 until NOON, Pacific Standard Time, Saturday, September 30, 2023.

The Photo

1. The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED elsewhere), and please include a photo credit.
2. 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 our editors see when we review your submission.
3. The only person that can be featured in the photo is YOURSELF. If you’re in the photo, it can be taken by someone else (please include the photo credit.) Photos of people other than yourself are NOT ALLOWED. See this article for legal reasons.

The Title, Subtitle & Tags

1. Title: Choose your own title.
2. For your subtitle: Please use September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shadows” (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.
3. Please Tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge

The Six Word Photo Story

1. The photo must be connected to your story and concept of “Shadows” in some way. The connection to “Shadows” should be made clear either in the photo, six word story, or (optional) backstory.
2. All six word stories and optional backstories must also abide by Medium’s rules. Note: Any stories that the editors may view as disrespectful, or inappropriate, or that fall into a grey area will be reviewed at the discretion of the editors and may be rejected.
3. The story must be six words only. 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 unique to this publication.
4. The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your six word story. If you don’t know how to do this, view the formatting guidelines.

The Backstory (OPTIONAL) & 2-Minute Maximum Read per story!

1. IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
2. The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your backstory.
3. 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. It will be unread and rejected if your submission comes in as a 3-minute read or more.

How to Submit Your Story

1. Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
2. To submit your unpublished draft: a) Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen b) Click “Add to publication” c) select “Six Word Photo Story Challenge” d) Click on “Select and continue.” e) Click “Submit.”
3. WHAT NOT TO DO! When submitting your unpublished draft, DO NOT CLICK “Publish” first. If you click “Publish” first — your story will be automatically self-published to your own profile page, and we will NOT accept it if you then attempt to submit your self-published story to our publication.

“Shadows” is open for submissions from September 1 until NOON, September 30, 2023, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

If you have any questions about the rules or need further clarification about the Monthly Challenge, please leave a comment on this story. For formatting step-by-step instructions (these are unique to this publication), see Formatting Your Six Word Photo Story.

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. 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.

Freestyle stories

You also have the option to write a six-word photo story featuring a photo and topic of your 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.

— Village hugs, from the editorial team, Mary Chang Story Writer — creator & editor of SWPSC, and co-editors, Sandi Parsons and Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles. If you don’t want to miss any future Six Word Photo Story Challenges, please follow us, this publication, and subscribe to our stories by hitting the “green envelope” button next to our profiles.

About the writer

Mary Chang is a writer, creator, and editor of the Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication. She’s also a parent and fitness enthusiast who loves creating monthly challenges. Fueled by cartwheels, cold open water swimming, and the power of shadows. Defying and embracing middle age.