The , organized by cizucu since the end of last year, has been held across various locations in Japan. By simply submitting your photos to cizucu, you can participate in the photo poster exhibition and meet new photographer friends you’ve never encountered before.
This time, we interviewed misaki, a creator who participated in the .
Please introduce yourself!
My name is misaki. I’ve always loved taking photos, and during my school days, I was a member of the photography club.
After my favorite camera broke, I distanced myself from photography for a while. However, as I developed a hobby for traveling, I started taking more photos with my iPhone, which reignited my passion for photography.
While I enjoy shooting with a camera, I also love how easy it is to take beautiful photos with an iPhone, and I continue to do so to this day.
What inspired you to participate?
This was my first time participating in a photo exhibition. Rather than wanting people to see my work, I was more interested in seeing other people’s photos, learning about the cameras they use, and hearing the stories behind their photos.
I was drawn to the concept of as a place to connect with fellow photography enthusiasts, which gave me the courage to participate this time.
How was your experience participating?
The time flew by. Not only did I get to hear detailed stories behind the photos of other participants, but I also learned about the cameras they use and the locations they shoot at—things I wouldn’t normally get to hear. It was incredibly motivating.
We also talked about hobbies outside of photography, which was a lot of fun (laughs). I’m not very good at taking photos of animals, but I received detailed advice on how to do it, which made me want to try it out.
The most memorable and enjoyable part of this experience was connecting with so many fellow photographers.
Seeing my work displayed as a poster made me feel even more attached to it. After the exhibition ended, I brought the poster home and immediately hung it in my entrance hall!
Why did you choose that particular photo?
The theme this time was 'Shape.' I struggled to figure out what 'my shape' was and took various photos, but nothing felt quite right.
One hot day, I went to my favorite beach and was gazing at the sea when I happened to look down. To my surprise, I saw a stone with a smiling face looking back at me. I couldn’t help but laugh and took a photo of it.
At that moment, I thought, 'This is it. This is the “shape” of my photography.' I was so happy to capture a photo that felt true to me, and I wanted to share it with others, which is why I chose this photo.
For those considering joining the photo poster project
If you’re on the fence about participating, I encourage you to take the leap and join.
It was my first photo exhibition, and I had many concerns when I applied. However, the staff were kind and attentive from start to finish, and most importantly, I was able to connect with fellow photography enthusiasts. After the exhibition ended, I genuinely felt, 'I’m so glad I had the courage to participate.'
Even if you don’t own a camera, as long as you love photography, you can easily participate in the .
I’m looking forward to meeting many new photography friends through the .
