For this week’s Fiction Issue, we also asked Washington City Paper readers to participate in our first ever photography contest, an exercise we hoped would help us glimpse the District from some new, unexpected perspectives. Save a few too many shots of the Washington Monument at dusk, that’s mostly what we got—more than 100 images, in fact, many which revealed as much about D.C. as they did about the people who like to photograph it.

A panel of City Paper editorial staffers, led by photographer Darrow Montgomery, picked its favorite six submissions. They were shot across the region, from downtown to Roosevelt Island to Wheaton and a handful of locations along the District line. Glimpsing them, it’s obvious why they fit with this week’s Fiction Issue: Each, in its own fashion, has a story to tell.

Rachel Carrier, “Bazaar” (2013)

Taken at Unique Bazaar, 12211 Veirs Mills Road, Wheaton

A U Street corridor resident, Rachel Carrier is a hobbyist film photographer (and a former Washington City Paper advertising staffer) with a love for thrift stores. She shot “Bazaar” on a 1970s SX-70 Polaroid camera using Impossible Project instant film. Her photos can be seen at flickr.com/people/rachelcarrier.

Hector Isaac, “Untitled” (2013)

Taken at News World, 10001 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Cuban-born and -raised, Isaac recently joined Strata, a collective of D.C.-based photographers. “We aim to keep it weird,” he says. His website is hectorisaac.com.

Jorge Bañales, “Untitled” (2012)

Taken at Theodore Roosevelt Island Park

An Alexandria resident originally from Uruguay, Bañales is a longtime D.C.-area photographer, and musician. His photographs can be seen at flickr.com/people/unspooled.

Stephen Voss, three photos from the series “Federal Limits,” 2012

Taken by Southern Avenue SE; by Oxon Creek, near Southwest D.C.; and on Verbena Street NW

Stephen Voss, a Tenleytown resident, is a photographer who shoots for publications like Wired, Outside, Time, and the New York Times Magazine. His website is stephenvoss.com.

Chris Suspect, “Untitled” (2013)

Taken at 18th and K streets NW

A Hyattsville resident, Chris Suspect is a professional new media content creator specializing in video, live streaming, podcasting. He’s also a member of the Strata Collective. His website is suspectdevice.net.

Pablo Benavente, “Her Name Is Kisses” (2012)

Taken in Ivy City

Originally from Nicaragua, Pablo Benavente has been a D.C. resident for 11 years. His photographs can be seen at pablorawphoto.com.