R., 18 years old. Mosul, Iraq, 2024.

Theme 4: Disarming the world

1. Learn

Minimalism in photography means removing distractions and focusing on just one subject or detail — something small that tells a big story. A single object. A quiet scene. An unexpected detail. These can speak more loudly than a crowded or chaotic frame.

Sometimes, a still life – such , what’s missing tells the strongest story.

Every choice you make, from where you stand, what you include, and what you leave out, helps shape what others feel and understand. Use minimalism to invite imagination.

Ask yourself:

  • What would your world look like without weapons?
  • How has violence, militarization, or conflict left its mark? And what objects—ordinary or symbolic—can reflect the harm or offer a vision of peace?
  • What would the world look like without those scars?

Let the object or scene you choose carry the story. Let stillness speak.

This video contains subtitles which you can activate or deactivate by clicking on the closed captions button (CC). In the settings you can select Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish subtitles (for additional languages click “auto-translate”). To view the whole script, click “show transcript” in the video description on YouTube.

2. Create

Prompt: What would your world look like without weapons?

Take a moment to reflect on how violence or militarization has shaped your surroundings — and what peace could look like instead.

Now, using minimalism, capture a single object or quiet scene that tells this story. Focus on stillness, absence, or transformation.

Let your photo say more with less. Then, write a short caption: What does this object represent for you?

Sometimes, one detail can show us the bigger picture.

3. Submit

Reminder: Campaign rules

  • Only send photos that you took yourself.
  • Don’t include faces, names or anything that could identify anyone in the photo.
  • Make sure your photo is safe — don’t take pictures that could harm you or anyone else.
  • Please disclose if you used any digital tools to adjust the original image.