the ihlr photofinish

 

 

We began publishing the annual IHLR PhotoFinish issue on New Year's Eve in 2015, and it's one of our favorite IHLR traditions--our last horse over the year's finish line. For the IHLR PhotoFinish, we seek well-crafted and very brief ekphrastic work that pushes beyond an absolute literal read of a photo prompt. We're looking for work that recognizes what's hidden in the world we see, responding to the physical details that the picture offers or what emotion it conveys or both. 

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The PhotoFinish issue is published electronically, via ISSUU, on New Year's Eve at midnight. In full color and with artwork for each manuscript, the issue contains the winning response as well as nine other finalists. And anyone can read the issue--for free!

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guidelines

 

• We provide the photo here on our website and all of our social media platforms every May. 

• Responses should be no longer than 500 words for prose or 15 lines for poetry.

• Submissions will be accepted, electronically, from July 1 to Aug 15..

• Submission fee: $5..

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• The winner receives $250. The finalists receive $75 each.

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free submit day

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We will accept 25 free submissions on July 15. On that day, at 8 a.m., we will open a special gate, revealed only on our social media pages and here on our website. We will accept only one free submission per person (automatically disqualifying subsequent free submission attempts by the same writer). Once we hit 25 submissions, we will close the free gate. Free submissions will not receive feedback. We offer this opportunity in the hopes of targeting writers who cannot afford to enter otherwise. If you can afford to enter, please do not take one of the 25 available free slots.

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submission gates

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July 1 to August 15, PhotoFinish General Submissions: Opening July 1, 2025.

July 15, PhotoFinish Free Submissions: Coming July 15, 2025.

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results

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We'll announce finalists and the winner here in September.

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