Your summer days in four frames
What’s so special about summer? Is it the break from school? The family trips? The impromptu adventures and the opportunity to do whatever you want?
For students, sure. For everyone else, these days, summer feels like any other day. Or maybe that’s just us getting older.
It’s no secret that special occasions and holidays lose their magic when you get older. Children are the target audience, and mix in the added responsibilities and life priorities—it’s no wonder they all seem a little less special. But for us, this loss of magic is less an inevitability that comes with age, instead, a matter of perspective.
What does summer mean to you? Is it all about vacation trips? Can a summer spent in the city be just as fulfilling as one spent on the beach? When you can’t afford to take time off, how do you inject “childlike wonder” into your summer days? How did your relationship with the season change as you got older?
In truth, there’s no singular answer to these questions. In fact, simply posing them almost comes across as very cynical. But, recognizing that our experiences and perspectives vary greatly, we ask for your unique point of view, your summer days in four frames.
Capture the moments that explore this changing definition of summer: a morning spent outside or a vacation trip you’ve been saving for—whether it be about people, a specific place, a moment, or whatever it may be. It doesn’t even have to be necessarily about you, and can be about something you’ve witnessed.
A photo essay about your summer
Here’s what we’re looking for:
• Your photo essay must include four (4) images. Do note if they should be presented/viewed in a specific order.
• Each photo must come with a caption explaining not only what’s in view but its significance to you and the theme.
• A brief excerpt of up to 250 words, introducing you and your photo essay.
Some added reminders
Please keep these in mind as you prepare your submissions:
• Submitted photo essays must be 100 percent original work.
• Photos or text created or edited with artificial intelligence will be disregarded.
• Digital manipulation and post-processing are allowed but should be kept to a minimum.
• Photo essays must be original. Meaning, these should not have been published in any other publications, papers, or magazines before submission. However, any photos posted on your personal social media accounts are allowed.
• There’s no age limit. Anyone may participate.
• If you’re taking photos of people, ask for their permission and contact details. This doesn’t apply to large crowds or public events.
Where to submit and what to expect
Photo essay submissions will be accepted from March 8 to 31, 2026. All entries must be submitted by the 31st at 11:59 p.m. Only submissions sent to scoutmagph@gmail.com will be considered.
Selected entries will be published on the Lifestyle.INQ website and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Additionally, chosen photo essays will be featured on Scout’s April print issue and social media accounts.
By submitting an entry, participants confirm that they have read and agree to the guidelines of the official contest. The terms and conditions are available on lifestyle.inquirer.net
