photo poster project | The day photos became a conversation starter by Migolta | ISSUE #226

cizucu hosts the photo poster project in cities around the world.
By simply choosing a city and date, creators can join a physical photo poster exhibition—and meet fellow creatives in real life.

In this issue, we spoke with Migolta who participated in the photo poster project, about why printing and exhibiting matters, what happened when their work moved beyond the screen, and what made the day so enriching.

Hi, I’m Miguel—also known as “Migolta” online.

I was born in the Philippines and raised in the UK. I started film photography in 2022 when I bought a Minolta X-700. (If you didn’t realise already, “Migolta” is a silly mash-up of Miguel and Minolta.)

Like many people who get into film, I wanted a slower process with less instant gratification. Shooting on film has helped me stay open to making mistakes and learning from them, instead of getting caught up in trying to take flawless photos on digital… which, to be honest, I still do on my phone.

I’m still early in my photography journey, but I’m excited to explore many styles—street, documentary, studio photography, and more—anything that inspires me to experiment and create beautiful work.

I joined the ppp exhibition because I wanted to showcase my work and connect with other photographers in person.

Sharing photos on social media just doesn’t feel the same as meeting face-to-face. It was a great opportunity not only to present my own work, but also to hear the stories behind other photographs on the wall.

It’s rare to connect with photographers in real life outside of the occasional photowalk, so the community aspect was genuinely encouraging. And since it was the first ppp event outside of Asia, I knew I couldn’t miss it.

It was incredibly inspiring to connect with others and see how different backgrounds shape the way people shoot.

I also loved hearing visitors compliment my work and share opinions I wouldn’t have considered on my own. Having my creator (business) cards printed and being able to hand them out to photographers and visitors made the conversations feel even more natural—photos really became an entry point to meeting people.

I chose this piece because it reflects faded memories—the way they blur and blend together over time.

It was also my first time trying double exposures on film, so it was a lovely surprise to see how well this frame turned out once it was developed.

At the motion design studio where I work, we have an ethos that encourages designers and artists to experiment, play, and stay curious. I take inspiration from that culture and apply it to photography whenever I can—it helps me stay free and open to what photography can be. This photo is a direct call back to a moment when experimentation really worked.

You won’t regret joining.

If you want to share the work you’re passionate about and connect with inspiring photographers from different backgrounds and experiences, give it a go.
cizucu prints and displays your poster, so you don’t have to handle any of the heavy lifting. Connect, present, and get inspired.