EXTINCTION. OR THE WORLD WITHOUT US?

The mushroom cloud above Nagasaki after the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945 (Public domain U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) Vintage Fallout Shelter Handbook, 1962 About «All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die.» So spoke Rutger Hauer on the set of the movie Blade Runner, 1982, based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. "The Silent Highwayman" (1858). Death rows on the Thames, claiming the lives of victims who have not paid to have the river cleaned up. Cartoon from Punch Magazine, Volume 35 Page 137; 10 July 1858. (Public domain) Human destruction of the living world is causing a “frightening” number of plant and animal extinctions, according to a growing number of scientists, studies, publications, and reports.  In the last century, the awareness that human activities are harmful to the environment, to life in general, including that of humans has increased. Wars, climate change, diseases, pollution, technological escalation, deforestation are just some of the threats that challenge the survival of the species. © Noah Addis from the series 'Future Cities', a project about informal urban development in the world’s major cities. (Interview on Urbanautica Journal) A great deal of literature and cinema have also contributed to this dystopian vision of the future. Even to imagine a "world without us". For these reasons, we are eager to discover and spread photographic and/or visual projects that nourish, document, develop, interpret, tell and question the theme of extinction. The dodo of Mauritius, shown here in a 1626 illustration by Roelant Savery, is an often-cited example of modern extinction. (Public domain) Deforestation of Brazil's Atlantic Forest c.1820–1825. Johann Moritz Rugendas - Centro de Documentação D. João VI (Public domain) Submissions We are looking for project-oriented works. Our open calls aim to reward authors, as much as to fulfill our mission of stimulating a critical reading of images, and fostering a better knowledge of the world and of photographic grammar. We are aware that there are different and alternative approaches today to the photographic medium and the production of images, and we welcome a variety of photographic modalities (linguistic, structural, formal and expressive) through which these issues are addressed. We care about the depth of intuitive thinking as much as the strength and coherence of the proposal. The Largest Trees on Earth - California’s Disappearing Redwoods. © Humboldt State University Archive. So far Urbanautica' calls have served different purposes, such as books, festivals, and studies. Recently Ragusa Foto Festival has exhibited over 30 photographers/artists selected through our call. In 2014 the Museum of Contemporary Art of Vojvodina Serbia produced a catalog and exhibition based on our survey on the experience of space in photography. Or in 2015 we were commissioned to run an international contest for EXPO Milano on food and photography, lately published in the book Feed a different imagination by L'Artiere. In 2017 our open call "SAVE ASOLO" contributed to the organization of an art residency program and to the book Asolo Sine Qua Non. Furthermore in 2018 Urbanautica issued its first Annual Awards to be released soon! Still image of the first Urbanautica Institute Yearbook to be released on October 2019. © Mustafah Abdulaziz from the series 'Water' exhibited by Urbanautica at MSUV, Serbia in 2014. Water is a photographic typology of a natural resource in crisis. Structured into chapters, this project reflects on our relationship with water, how we use and misuse it, to ultimately understand our place within one of the greatest challenges of our time. Jury We are the Jury! In the past ten years, Urbanautica has contributed to the medium of photography by presenting the work of international photographers and educators with great care and attention, while also raising awareness of photography’s role in the world. Our Journal archive counts several hundred interviews, scores of reviews, and almost uncountable photographs and projects. Our credibility is based on research and studies that require years of effort, professionalism, competence, patience, and passion, and is proven through our collaborations with galleries and museums worldwide in the resulting exhibitions and catalogs. Awards 1. All entrants compete from day one for global exposure to our large following through our journal and social media!2. All shortlisted works will get a dedicated page on the Urbanautica website.3. All shortlisted works will be included in a book available on-demand from our publishing house Urbanautica Institute.4. All shortlisted works will be included in a collective installation at Urbanautica's new workshop opening next October! Slash-and-burn farming in the state of Rondônia, western Brazil. (Public domain NASA Earth Observatory) Pivot irrigation in Saudi Arabia, April 1997. Saudi Arabia is suffering from a major depletion of the water in its underground aquifers. Nasa (Public domain) © Benoit Aquin’s series, The Chinese “Dust Bowl” (2005-2007), examining the human-made desertification of Northern China, was awarded the National Magazine Award Silver Medal for Photojournalism and Photo Essays, as well as the prestigious Prix Pictet. © Edward Burtynsky, 'Chuquicamata Copper Mine Overburden #2, Calama', Chile (2017)  from the artist’s Anthropocene Project, a multidisciplinary investigation into human impact on the planet.  How to apply Please follow 3 easy consecutive steps starting with the form below: 1. Enter your personal data2. Pay the fee3. Upload materials as follow:- title of the portfolio- statement of the portfolio- cover image (250x250 pixels)- up to 15 images (max. width 2048 pixels) Contacts If you have any questions or issues with regards to the submission procedure please write to info@urbanautica.com.Fee can be paid via Paypal or Bank. Deadline September 30th. Final The participants authorize Urbanautica Institute to use pictures of the series for advertising, publishing and press purposes. It is implied that anyone, such as producers, artists, distributors and all other organizations and institutions that submit must own all the rights empowering them to do so and are entirely responsible for their act, and that by submitting they indemnify Urbanautica Institute from any and all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, and attorney's fees arising out of or in connection with third parties in regard to the use of said submission.