cizucu Presents 'Daydream' | Challenge #299

'Daydream' is a global online photo contest hosted by cizucu, open to all creators registered on the platform. The contest aims to curate outstanding submissions, discover new talents, and support the community.

This time, the theme is 'The Boundary Between Dreams and Reality.'

Have you ever experienced a daydream?

Whether it's zoning out on a crowded train, losing focus during a monotonous meeting, or escaping mentally when overwhelmed with tasks, daydreaming is a state where your mind drifts to another world while you're still awake.

We are looking for photos that capture the surreal, dreamlike landscapes or atmospheres that emerge in everyday life—images that evoke another world hidden within the heart, just like a daydream.

It might seem challenging, but we encourage broad interpretations of the theme.

Aya

cizucu Editorial Team
The light in the bottle held in the palm of a hand feels like the distant glow of streetlights in a faraway land. It creates a sense of peeking into another world, alone in the darkness. Through this piece, I felt as though I could momentarily escape the weight of reality and immerse myself in fragments of dreams that had only existed deep within my heart.

Shizuka

cizucu Editorial Team
This scene appears to be neither deep underwater nor somewhere in the sky, but rather in a boundaryless place. The way the light falls like particles and the delicate bubbles drift creates a sense of unwavering peace, untouched by anything threatening. It made me imagine the world before birth, like the inside of a mother's womb—a place I cannot remember but can somehow feel.

boulogne2

cizucu Editorial Team
The shadow slowly forming from the mist feels real, yet its contours seem ready to dissolve at the slightest touch. While the figure is clear, the atmosphere beyond its outline feels distant, evoking a sense of disconnection—as if we are close yet unable to share the same world. This imagery resonates with the modern human condition, where connections exist but true intimacy remains elusive.

⋆ Sui ⋆

📷 NORITSU KOKI EZ Controller

cizucu Editorial Team
The lingering presence on an empty chair feels warm, as if someone might return at any moment. The view beyond the window softly blurs, dissolving the boundary of reality. The conversations and emotions that must have existed just moments ago seem to linger in the air, making you feel as though you're reaching out to grasp them.

shinobrikko

📷 Canon EOS Kiss X10

cizucu Editorial Team
To me, this scene feels like a fragment that appears just before waking from a dream. Though the outlines are vague, the faint interplay of light and shadow lingers strongly, and the presence that must have been there quietly wavers. While it seems to slip away when you try to grasp it, there’s an inexplicable intimacy, as if it’s somehow connected to your inner self.

【Event Period】
Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026

【Winner Announcement】
Around Friday, January 16, 2026

【Rewards】
Free participation in cizucu's 'Photo Poster Project' (valued at 6,000 yen, for 2 winners)

【How to Enter】
・Select the contest 'Daydream'
・Tap 'Agree to the contest terms and submit'
・Choose your submission content and apply

【Judging Criteria】
(1) Thematic Relevance: Does the submission align with the stated mission?
(2) Subject Focus: Does the photo convey the photographer's intent?
(3) Expressiveness: Is there skill in perspective, composition, balance, focus, and color?
(4) Timing: Does the photo capture the right moment?
(5) Originality: Are the location and subject uniquely crafted?