cizucu Presents 'Still Life' | Challenge #347

‘Still Life’ is a global online photography contest presented by cizucu, open to all creators registered on cizucu. Outstanding works will be curated from the submissions, with the aim of discovering new talent for the platform and supporting the community.

This edition’s theme is Still Life Photography.

When you set your camera before an unmoving subject, sometimes the silence reveals traces of time and presence that dwell within.
Objects, even without words, communicate something tangible through their form, texture, and the way they catch the light.

It might be a vessel or a book that accompanies someone’s daily life. Or perhaps, like a rock, a seashell, or a tree, it is an entity marked by the passage of time in the natural world.
Still life photography is an expressive practice that seeks to engage with the stories behind inanimate subjects.

We invite you to submit your work capturing the undeniable presence you have observed.

つばさ製作所
“A congratulatory balloon left behind after an opening celebration”

📷 PENTAX K-1 Mark II

cizucu Editorial Team
What was once placed to celebrate remains after its purpose has ended, now revealing a different expression. Though the vibrant colors have not faded, the sense of melancholy is accentuated by the sterile atmosphere around it.

ookinate23

cizucu Editorial Team
The traces of repair wrapped around it speak of the long time it has been used. While it is a charming piece of playground equipment, it also carries a sense of care and protection beyond mere novelty. Even after the laughter of children has faded, this place has surely continued to live on.

Takuya

cizucu Editorial Team
The Japanese umbrella placed beside the Jizo statue conveys what this figure means to the local residents. The presence of the umbrella suggests the layers of familiarity and prayer that have accumulated around this place and the Jizo over time.

Keisuke Tokita

cizucu Editorial Team
This plush toy, placed within arm’s reach of a person, appears to have a role and relationship beyond being a mere ornament. The proximity and the photographer’s sense of distance convey its significance without the need for explanation.

HAL

📷 SONY α7 III

cizucu Editorial Team
Although captured in monochrome and seemingly distanced from the warmth of living beings, there remains a sense of warmth and charm. I am drawn to that feeling. Even as an inorganic form, the more you look, the more a sense of familiarity emerges—this is what left a lasting impression.

[Contest Period]
Saturday, April 4, 2026 – Friday, May 3, 2026

[Announcement of Awards]
Around Friday, May 13, 2026

[Reward]
Free participation voucher for the cizucu “Photo Poster Project” (for 2 artists)

[How to Submit]
・Select the ‘Still Life’ contest
・Tap ‘Agree to the submission guidelines and post’
・Choose your content and submit your work

[Jury Criteria]
(1) Thematic Relevance: Does the work align with the stated mission?
(2) Subject Focus: Is the photographer’s intent clearly conveyed?
(3) Expressiveness: Does the work demonstrate expressive power in perspective, composition, balance, focus, color, etc.?
(4) Timing: Has the decisive moment or timing of the subject been captured?
(5) Originality: Does the work show unique creativity in location, subject, or approach?