For my Freestyle Collage No. 59, my theme is "2023 Best Photo of the Year." For photographers, capturing that one prize winning image that may catapult their careers is a dream. Sometimes it may be that a person is in the right place at the right time. I share a short fiction with you.

"If that young man don't start showing remarked improvement, we might have to let him go," Christopher, a young and fledgling photographer, overheard the head of their nature environment department speak in a hushed voice to his supervisor.

"He's inexperienced, I know, but his portfolio was impressive and his spontaneity is awesome," the supervisor retorted in a pleading tone.

"I need something tangible and unique to keep him on, understand? And sooner rather than later. Relay that!" The words rushed to Christopher on the other side of the door.

He retreated and disappeared behind his cubicle wall. He longed for the weekend. A day away, it couldn't come soon enough. He didn't realize when he accepted the position that the pressure to produce was greater than his desire to win the photographer of the year award. His experience wouldn't allow for that, just yet.

The weekend. His mind fell cloudy, attempting to dissect the word "unique". What is unique about a nature photo Everything has been already covered.

Accepting an invitation from his father to accompany him on a fishing trip, Christopher packed for the two-day event. Not a fisherman, perhaps he would encounter a new species. If not, perhaps on land, he mused.

With his camera in his backpack, he left his father sitting with a contented stare out over the glistening water waiting patiently to feel a tug at his line.

Christopher scoured the secluded camping site. He tread carefully through the brush until he emerged on the opposite side of the bank. He glanced up immediately noticing a crimson and orange glow deepen, turning the gray evening sky darker.

Orange shadows descended onto the ground and burst backward, illuminating the landscape as far as he could see. Looking out over the water, in the foreground, the edge of the city they just left came into view.

A statue, initially small in size began to expand until it reached stood reaching high in the atmosphere. Instantly, a huge eye with long, black eyelashes and gold tinged iris surrounding the black pupil. It blinked several times as though adjusting its view, before staring wide eyed, as devoid of sight.

An eerie feeling crept up his spine, causing the hair on his arms and neck to stand on guard. He couldn't explain the fear that spread over his face from the blank stare that felt as if it held all knowledge.

Pockets of fire sprang up around the city buildings. He didn't feel as if it was meant to harm the people in its path, only to protect the strange statute that resembled a hand containing an eye.

She stood motionless. I say "she" because even though the statue rose high in the air, its slender wrist, small hands, and manicured nails flashed burgundy. Suddenly, a vision of a female appeared to the right side of the statute. Her beautiful, cold stare seemed to direct its energy into the eye.

Christopher stood rigid for only a moment. His photographer instinct took control. He jerked into motion and rushed as close to the edge of the shore as would allow. Fumbling in his backpack, he yanked out his camera. Hands shaking and without a care that the apparition could be dangerous, he snapped a photo.

The camera wouldn't stop. It continued until the eye turned in his direction. He froze, certain he had drawn attention to himself.

The eye halted its probe as camera flashes continued. Immediately, it locked onto Christopher's face. He dropped the camera. Were it not for the strap secured around his neck, the camera and all evidence of the strange phenomena would have been lost to the murky waters.

Panting, he ran back to his father. "We just arrived. You haven't had time drink yourself into a stupor, so something must be afoot." He reluctantly secured his fishing rod and followed his son back to the other side of the inlet.

He stood silent. Surveying the area, he listened to his son's account of the most unlikely story he'd heard in many years. But he didn't contradict or ridicule him. All he asked was whether he had proof.

Did Christopher win the Best Photo of the Year? Once he stops shaking with disbelief retelling his story and proving it with photos, I have no doubt!

To complete my freestyle collage, I envisioned a city landscape, a plan mountainous region, and a sparkling fantasy image landscape that would illuminate the sky for the background.

I utilized various type images, two of which are landscapes from the LMAC Community. Others are free-sourced images. For the female and illuminated skyline, I discovered two awesome images.

Below are the additional images I included to complete my theme. Several of them are fractals. :

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• Fantasy landscape at PxFuel

• Woman with leaves at PxFuel

• Photographer by Moomhan at PurePNG

• Eyelashes by Lohrelei at Pixabay

• Pure Fractal titled "Cascade in Green" created by me in Apophysis

• Pure Fractal titled "Prickly Frame" created by me in Apophysis

• Abstract Art titled "Black Bar Downward created by me in Bomomo

• Abstract Art titled "Purple Circles" created by me in Bomomo

• Abstract Art titled "Black15" created by me in Bomomo

• Hand with eye in middle Contributed to the #LIL by @quantumg

• Fire Contributed to the #LIL by @donroberts

I uploaded all images into Canva to blend my scene. Below are my procedures:

Below is my completed project.

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate it. I hope you like my freestyle collage theme.