cizucu Hosts 'Your Signature Bokeh' Award Announcement | Challenge #146

'Your Signature Bokeh' is a global online photo contest organized by cizucu, open to any creator registered with cizucu. The contest aims to curate outstanding works from submissions, discover new talents as a platform, and support the community.

Are you familiar with the English word 'bokeh'?

This term refers to a photographic technique that finds beauty in the blurred areas outside the lens's focus range, intentionally using it for artistic expression. 'Bokeh' is a universal term for 'blur', and it is said to have been first used in the 1990s in Western camera magazines to describe the quality of blur produced by a lens. Since then, 'bokeh' has become established as a photographic term.

This time, we explored 'bokeh', a concept that we Japanese quickly noticed and appreciated for its aesthetic appeal. Now, let's introduce the submitted and award-winning works.

littlekiss photography
A moment at a department store that has since closed

cizucu Editorial Team
Among the many submissions, this photo stood out. It seems to be a snapshot, capturing the main motif instantly and incorporating the lights of the bustling city, elevating it to a fashionable bokeh through the photographer's quick reflexes and creativity.

mumei ksm

📷 Canon EOS 6D Mark II

cizucu Editorial Team
Sometimes, the bokeh and composition allow us to imagine the story behind a photo. This piece might have captured a child innocently entering the frame while trying to photograph a boat. It's a photo that touches the narrative potential of bokeh effects.

me..
[Stillness and Movement]

📸 NIKON D7000

cizucu Editorial Team
This photo utilizes shutter speed and bokeh effects to focus on the presence of a monk, creating a truly artistic and dramatic piece. The monk's figure, intertwined with the photographer's perspective, gains a definite contour.

テル
Fireworks Bokeh

📷 SONY ILCE-7RM5

cizucu Editorial Team
This dynamic bokeh shot captivated us. The persistence in location scouting and repeatedly pressing the shutter to capture this shot is evident, showcasing the photographer's dedication.

RYUURI
A hot summer day from childhood... Does it bring back any memories?

📷 Nikon D750

cizucu Editorial Team
Chosen objectively, this nostalgic and dreamy gaze is irresistibly appealing to me. The decision to place the focus in the foreground seems to define this photo entirely. However, without the motif arrangement, highlight composition, and monochrome, this image wouldn't have achieved its strength.

How was it?
This contest demonstrated how the technique of 'bokeh' deeply intertwines with photography and enhances its expression. Thank you for all your submissions.

See you at the next contest!