Curated by cizucu: May Diary ‘26 | Challenge #358

‘May Diary '26’ is a global online photo contest curated by cizucu, open to all creators registered on cizucu. Outstanding submissions will be curated, with the aim of discovering new talent through the platform and fostering support within the community.

This edition’s theme is ‘May Diary’.

The ‘Diary’ series invites you to submit photographs taken in your daily life, accompanied by the stories of those days, much like a diary.

A diary is a valuable means of recording one’s life and experiences. Looking back allows us to objectively perceive our growth and changes, and to gain new insights. We encourage you to organize your daily thoughts and feelings by sharing your own stories.

May is a time when the lingering traces of spring gently give way to early summer. The shimmering young leaves swaying in the breeze, the endless blue sky, the scent of dusk that makes you want to take a deep breath.

As the rush of early April settles and you begin to find your rhythm in new surroundings, this season brings a gentle sense of spaciousness to the heart. Why not quietly capture the feelings that seep into that space, or the scenes that catch your eye, and preserve them as a photographic diary?

We look forward to your submissions.

はくらく
“Tango no Sekku. Every year, the kabuto (samurai helmet) that was displayed at my parents’ home is now moved to our house for my son. Thank you for protecting me all these years. From this year, please watch over my son.”

📷 OLYMPUS E-M1MarkII

cizucu Editorial Team
Every country has its own meaningful holidays. In Japan, there is ‘Children’s Day’ in May, a day to pray for children’s happiness and to give thanks to mothers. Let’s discover and capture those important traditions that are passed down without words, found in the home during May.

Ken
“What lies ahead? Just imagining it is delightful.”

📷 FUJIFILM X-T4

cizucu Editorial Team
There are days when, for some reason, you feel drawn to a path you’ve never seen before. In May, the wind seems to gently push you in that direction. Not to seek answers, but to encounter something that cannot yet be put into words—try recording such a walk in your diary.

filmtaaabooo777

cizucu Editorial Team
Even in the evening, the sky remains bright, stretching all the way to the window. This is the season when the senses, closed off during winter, slowly open up in the light of May. It’s often the unnamed moments that become the memories we want to recall, even years later.

nori9
“Heritage of Connected Terraced Rice Fields”

📷 Nikon Z 6II

cizucu Editorial Team
Someone tills the soil, draws water, and plants seedlings. We now stand atop these landscapes that have been preserved in this way. For just a few weeks in May, the flooded rice terraces reflect the sky itself. Capturing the May expressions of these inherited landscapes can also make for a beautiful diary entry.

haneul

📷 SONY Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

cizucu Editorial Team
If you come across a cat sleeping contentedly under the warm sun, please share it with the cizucu community. That one shot is a great source of motivation for our editorial team!

【Contest Period】
Friday, May 1, 2026 – Sunday, May 31, 2026

【Award Announcement】
Monday, June 8, 2026

【Reward】
Free entry ticket to the cizucu “Photo Poster Project” (for 2 participants)

【How to Submit】
・Select the contest ‘May Diary '26’
・Tap ‘Agree to Submission Guidelines and Post’
・Select your content and submit your work

【Jury Criteria】
(1) Thematic Relevance: Does the submission align with the stated mission?
(2) Subject Focus: Is the photographer’s intention clearly conveyed?
(3) Artistic Expression: Does the work demonstrate expressive power in perspective, composition, balance, focus, color, etc.?
(4) Moment: Does the work capture the decisive moment or timing of the subject?
(5) Originality: Is there a unique approach to the location or subject?