Sensing Cities Global Photography Project for Students & Urban Observers [Open Worldwide]: Submit Online

River Margin is inviting people worldwide to contribute to Sensing Cities, an urban ecology and observation project. Participants can photograph something they notice in their city—such as plants growing through concrete, changing shadows, street textures, litter, wildlife or overlooked green spaces—and submit a short observation about it.

Accepted observations will be displayed publicly on the project website to encourage people to notice how nature, infrastructure and everyday life interact in cities.

Deadline: No closing date has been specified; submissions appear to be open on a rolling basis.

Click here to submit an observation to Sensing Cities.

Sensing Cities Project: Highlights

• Organiser: River Margin
• Project: Sensing Cities
• Focus: Urban ecology and active observation
• Target group: Students, photographers, writers and urban observers
• Geographical eligibility: Worldwide
• Submission: One photograph with a written observation and location
• Camera requirement: A phone camera may be used
• Experience required: None specified
• Publication: Observations will be displayed publicly on the project website
• Submission mode: Online form
• Deadline: Not specified; rolling submissions

About Sensing Cities

Sensing Cities encourages people to slow down and pay attention to features of urban life that are often overlooked.

The project explores questions such as:

• What makes a city feel alive?
• What role does nature play in urban spaces?
• How do cities make people feel?
• What should be changed or preserved?
• How can cities support plants, animals and green spaces?
• How do natural and human-made environments interact?

Participants do not need professional photography equipment. A simple photograph taken on a mobile phone is acceptable.

What Can You Observe?

Possible subjects include:

• Weeds growing through bridges, walls or pavements
• Moss, mushrooms and small plants
• Birds, insects or other urban wildlife
• Trees and their shadows
• Public parks and green spaces
• Litter and waste
• Drains, footpaths and roadside spaces
• Interesting walls, surfaces and textures
• Water, soil or weather in the city
• The relationship between buildings and nature
• Something being repaired, neglected or transformed
• Any small urban detail that makes you stop and think

The observation does not need to be dramatic. The project values careful attention to ordinary surroundings.

Who Can Participate?

The project accepts submissions from anywhere in the world.

Specific age, education, nationality or professional-experience requirements have not been stated. Students, amateur photographers and first-time contributors may participate.

What Do You Need to Submit?

The online form asks for:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Subject
• Written message or observation
• Location
• One uploaded image

File-format, image-size and word-limit requirements have not been specified.

How to Submit?

1. Look closely at your surroundings and choose an urban detail connected with nature, people or the built environment.
2. Take a clear photograph using a phone or camera.
3. Write a short observation explaining what you noticed and why it matters.
4. Visit the Sensing Cities submission page.
5. Enter your name, email, subject and location.
6. Upload the photograph.
7. Submit the completed form.

Important Safety and Privacy Advice

• Observe and photograph only from places where you are permitted to be.
• Do not enter private property, unsafe structures, drains or restricted areas.
• Stay alert around traffic, construction sites and railway lines.
• Avoid including identifiable people without their permission.
• For the location field, use a general place such as the city or neighbourhood rather than a private home or school address.
• Contributors below 18 should seek help from a parent or guardian if unsure about sharing an image or location publicly.

Publication and Rights

Submitted observations will be publicly visible on the project website.

The available information does not explain copyright, image licensing, editing or removal conditions. Contributors should review the submission page and contact River Margin if they need clarification about future use of their photograph.

Deadline

No deadline has been specified.

Submissions appear to be accepted on a rolling basis while the online form remains available.

Submission Link

Click here to submit your photograph and observation.