We prioritize unpublished work to keep the journal fresh. However, we are open to reimaginings of previous projects if they have been significantly reworked to fit the Triplicities theme, or if they have previously only been published on personal social media channels.

Absolutely. You retain full copyright of your text and images. By submitting, you grant Ephemere First Serial Rights to publish the work in Volume 2 (Print) and promote it across our digital channels.

We ask for a 1-year exclusivity period starting from the date of publication. During this time, the specific piece cannot be republished in other journals or magazines. After this period, you are free to reprint the work elsewhere, though we kindly ask for a credit line stating: "Originally published in the Ephemere Photo Journal, Vol. 2."

Due to the physical limitations of the print journal, we can only select a limited number of features. However, we often find compelling work that we still want to share! If your work is not selected for print, we may invite you to be published in the Ephemere Photo Journal – Online Edition. There is a section in the submission form where you can indicate if you are open to this opportunity.

No, there is no fee to submit your work.

Yes. Ephemere is a passion-driven, community-funded initiative. While we cannot yet match commercial rates, we offer a modest honorarium starting at 10,000 JPY for selected print contributors as a token of our gratitude.

This specific call is for text-driven features for the Journal. However, we will be launching a separate "Regular Open Call" (Image Only) for the Triplicities theme in early 2026, intended for the festival exhibition. If you only have images, please wait for that announcement!

We encourage Photo Poetry submissions where both poetry and photos are created by you.

 However, you can submit your poetry paired with another’s photos with due credit, assuming the photographer does not insist on permissions to use their photos with due credits.

No. Lead with poetry – a central, single, cohesive verse composition structured around an idea, an emotion or a thought employing the magic of three philosophical or other constructs to anchor the ephemeral in the nature of things. No separate standalone poems for individual photos.

We are looking for substantive treatment of the ephemeral via the theme Triplicities: The Magic Of Three. That said we believe that a fair exposition on the theme would involve a combination of or all of the inherent nuances, contrasts, contradictions, learning, observations and reflections, not to speak of competing complexities, intrinsic to the theme. We feel this would necessarily involve verse of substantial length to address the theme.

Photo Poetry submission requires the same word limit range (800 – 1200 words) as defined for the other categories. Include between 5 – 10 photos that integrate with poetry.       

We see the Photo Poetry medium as one that makes the reader/viewer draw connections between the rhythms of text and sentiments of visuals, where each can serve as a metaphor for the other, both filling one another’s gaps deliberately structured to reinforce meanings individually within each and, collectively together.

 Neither text nor visual exists as fillers for the other; they do not stitch the other’s inadequacies; instead they exist to complement each other so they resonate with the reader/viewer as one.

 Bonded together, the relationship between poetry and photo transcends the literal, into the figurative, employing abstractions, metaphors, meter, and tone in synergy with the photo so poetry rises above being a mere caption to the photo even as the latter transforms beyond being merely illustrative.   

 A photo’s meaning is not fixed. In poetry’s presence, its meaning changes and vice versa.

Yes. You may submit multiple entries, but please submit them via separate forms to ensure they are reviewed individually.

The deadline is February 28, 2026. Our editorial team will review submissions throughout March, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted by April 2026.

If you have a question not answered here, please reach out to journal@ephemere,tokyo.