First Photo Exhibition at ppp: Stories of 'Anxiety' and 'Joy' from 5 Participants | Focus #563

The organized by cizucu allows you to participate in a photo poster exhibition simply by submitting your photos to cizucu. It's also a great opportunity to meet new photographer friends.

This time, we introduce the stories of 'anxiety' and 'joy' from five creators who participated in the for the first time.

These participants, with varying levels of photography experience and from different generations, shared their feelings of 'anxiety' before the exhibition and the 'joy' they gained through it. Their authentic voices will surely encourage you to take the first step if you're hesitating about exhibiting your work.

About a year after I started photography seriously, I became interested in connecting with other photography enthusiasts and participating in exhibitions. That’s when I came across the . I had never participated in a group photo exhibition before and had the impression that 'photo exhibitions = high barriers,' which made it hard for me to take the first step.

However, after participating in ppp, I found that all the participants were kind and approachable, creating a very friendly atmosphere. During the gallery talk, I could hear directly about the background and thoughts behind each photo, and I learned a lot from genres of photography I usually don’t explore. It was a refreshing and inspiring experience.

Although I usually only share my work on social media and have limited interaction with other photographers, I’ve always been interested in exhibitions and photography-related communities. That’s why I decided to participate for the first time.

I joined from the setup stage, and perhaps because each participant displayed only one photo, every piece was impressive and memorable. Strangely, I felt more nervous when looking at others' works than when focusing on my own. I think that’s because I was seriously engaging with photography during that time.

I’ve always been interested in and admired offline exhibitions, but I felt it wasn’t something I could easily participate in due to a lack of knowledge and connections with other creators. I spent my days posting works on Instagram, like throwing stones into the dark.

After joining cizucu as a creator, I learned about the and thought, 'This seems like something I can participate in.' I also hoped to share my creative perspectives and values while finding motivation for my own work, which led me to join.

It was my first time exhibiting my photos and having them viewed by others, so I was nervous. However, as I looked at other participants' photos and engaged in conversations, I started to feel more at ease.
Before arriving at the venue, I was filled with doubts and tension, but after the exhibition, I realized a few things I’d like to share.

First, 'Photos displayed in a physical space are completely different from those on a screen.'
Even though I had seen my photos countless times on a screen, seeing them displayed on a wall moved me deeply. The larger size of the photos and the atmosphere of the space combined to create emotions I had never experienced before.

Since I had been pursuing photography and videography as an extension of my hobbies, I never considered myself a creator. However, I realized that I was avoiding evaluation by labeling it as just a hobby.
I decided to participate to step beyond the boundaries of a hobby and embrace the identity of a 'creator,' taking pride in my work.

Having my work exhibited gave me a refreshing sense of accomplishment. It also significantly lowered the perceived barriers to being a 'creator.'
Additionally, photographers often find it hard to build horizontal connections, but through this participation, I was able to casually interact and exchange opinions with others, which was a truly valuable experience.

Beyond the anxiety and hesitation before exhibiting lies unexpected joy and connections with fellow photographers. The stories of 'anxiety' and 'joy' shared by the five creators introduced here will resonate with and inspire you to take the first step.

Since its launch at the end of last year, the has expanded beyond Japan to reach overseas. Why not discover the potential of your work through photo exhibitions?

We look forward to your participation!