Open Call #11 marks the third chapter in our acclaimed Anarchy series. Following the global success of the first two volumes, this edition serves as another milestone in our ongoing exploration of monochrome photography.

For this volume, we invite photographers to strip away the distraction of color and return to the fundamental essence of photography: light, shadow, and form. We seek work that demonstrates how the absence of color can reveal the deepest truths of a subject.

Selected works will not only be published in Anarchyº3, but will also be considered for a series of international exhibitions in 2026. We are accepting submissions until December 31st, 2025.

By submitting to this call, your work is considered for three major opportunities.

1. The Publication: Anarchyº3

— Secure your place in the third volume of the series. This is a chance to be part of a permanent, collectible archive of contemporary black and white photography.

2. The Exhibitions: International Showcase

A special curation of works drawn from the entire Anarchy series (Volumes º1, º2, and º3) will be exhibited internationally in 2026, including the following:

— Holo Art (Olbia, Sardinia, Italy) - confirmed

— Photomafia (Northampton, England, UK) - confirmed

— (Versailles, France) - pending

— With a special showcase planned during the Ephemere Photo Fest in Tokyo, Japan in October 2026.

📌 More information about the exhibitions and additional venues may be added as they are confirmed.

3. Global Exposure

Standout submissions may be highlighted on our Instagram feed, and select portfolios may be featured on our Online Journal — both during or after the open call period.

📌 While both tiers are eligible for the Publication and Exhibitions, Paid Submissions are prioritized during the review process.

PAID TIER (Up to 5 Images): $10 per image.

— Contributor Status: First and foremost, by investing in a submission fee, you cease to be just an entrant and become a vital Contributor. You directly fuel the production of this independent project, covering essential costs like high-quality printing, design, and management.

— Priority Review & Early Exposure: Because you are investing in the project, your work is reviewed with priority status. This ensures your submission receives dedicated curatorial attention before the general pool. Consequently, Paid submissions are often the first to be considered for the Submission Highlights—the crowd favorite—during the open call period.

— Curatorial Options: By submitting more images, you provide the curator with options. Sometimes, a "perfect" image is selected not because it is the loudest, but because it is the missing puzzle piece that connects the sequence. A larger submission gives us more opportunities to find that fit.

— The Contributor Discount: As a thank you for your support, you receive a guaranteed progressive discount on the final book that matches your contribution level, whether you are selected or not (e.g., Invest $10 and get 10% off; Invest $50 and get 50% off).

※ Discount codes will be distributed via email upon the publication's release.

FREE TIER (1 Image): Submit at no cost.

— Global Access: We remain committed to keeping our platform open. This tier ensures that financial status is never a barrier to participation, allowing photographers from all backgrounds to submit their best work without risk.

— Full Eligibility: Your single image is a powerful entry ticket. Free submissions are fully eligible for all major outcomes: the Publication, the international Exhibitions, and Instagram Highlights.

— The Merit Standard: While Contributors help fund the project, the final curation is blind to the tier. If your image fits the sequence, it gets in.

※ Selected artists in this tier may purchase the publication at the regular retail price.

📌 Submissions are strictly limited to one via the Free Tier. However, you may 'upgrade' to a Paid submission at any time by simply re-submitting via the Paid Tier. Additionally, multiple submissions are allowed via the Paid Tier.

Technical mastery is expected, but perfection takes a backseat to feeling. We are looking for:

• Viscerality: Images that hit the gut before they hit the brain. We want raw, tangible texture and atmosphere.

• Emotional Resonance: The ability to convey a narrative or a specific mood without reliance on color.

• The Element of Surprise: We review thousands of images. Show us a perspective, a composition, or a moment that feels undeniably yours.

— Strictly Black and White: Images will be printed in pure grayscale. Do not submit Sepia, Cyanotype, or toned images, as they will automatically be desaturated.

— Specs: PNG, TIFF, or High-Quality JPEG. Min 3000px long side, 300 dpi.

Note: If selected for the exhibition, we may contact you to request higher-resolution files for large-format printing.

— Naming: Files must be named FirstName_LastName_##.tif (e.g., Jane_Doe_01.tif).

— Prohibited: No watermarks, borders, or signatures. No AI-generated content.

— Open Call Duration: From December 1 to December 31st, 2025 (23:59 JST)

— Selected Photographers’ Announcement: February 2026

— Publication Launch and Exhibition: March 2026 (Tentative)

By submitting to this Open Call, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Copyright, Exhibition & Usage Rights

You retain full copyright of your work. By submitting, you grant Ephemere and its partner exhibition venues non-exclusive permission to use, print, and display your images (with proper credit) across all media platforms, including the website, social media, the printed publication, and physical exhibitions. Additionally, you understand that images may be cropped or adjusted slightly to fit online templates, publication layouts, or exhibition formats to ensure visual cohesion.

2. Fees & Notifications

You acknowledge that all submission fees are used to cover production costs and project management, and are therefore non-refundable regardless of selection status. All submitters will be contacted via email regarding their status after the review period, and selected participants will be publicly announced via social media and the newsletter.

3. Compliance & Project Changes

Ephemere reserves the right to disqualify submissions that do not adhere to the guidelines (e.g., incorrect naming, watermarks, AI content) without notice. Furthermore, Ephemere reserves the right to make changes to any aspect of this project, including the timeline or exhibition details, if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.