photo poster project | Taking the Leap Connected Me Through What I Love by ayaka | ISSUE #177

The is an exhibition series held worldwide by cizucu. By simply submitting your photographs to cizucu, you can participate in the photo poster exhibition and connect with fellow photographers you have yet to meet.

This time, we spoke with ayaka, a creator who took part in the photo poster project.

Nice to meet you, I'm ayaka.
I have always loved taking photos, and in September 2025, I began my journey as a mobile photographer, hoping to share my work with a wider audience. I mainly capture everyday scenes and nature around Fukushima Prefecture.

While working as a photographer, I always wanted to exhibit my work in an exhibition, but I found it difficult to take that first step and often felt a sense of frustration.

It was then that I was invited to join the photo poster project, and I decided to take the plunge, hoping to discover something new.

At first, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even talk to the other creators exhibiting their work… (laughs)
But thanks to the warm encouragement from the staff, by the end of the event I had become good friends with everyone and found myself deep in conversation.

Being able to hear, in person, the stories and feelings behind each exhibited photograph was truly invaluable. I could feel everyone’s passion for their work, and it made me genuinely happy.

I wanted to share the sense of excitement—as if a story was about to begin from this very moment—so I chose this particular photograph.

Each viewer will have their own impressions.
Before you know it, it becomes the prologue to a story in which you are the protagonist…
I hope this piece can be a small light in someone’s heart. It’s one of my personal favorites!

I think there are many people like me who are interested in exhibitions but don’t know where to start or haven’t found the right opportunity.

With the photo poster project, you can hear directly from fellow creators about what they found inspiring in your exhibited work, and receive encouraging words that will support your future creative journey.

This experience will make you fall even more in love with photography, and you’ll find peers who share your passion. The staff’s support was also incredibly attentive, so I was able to participate in the event with complete peace of mind. I highly recommend giving it a try!