Two Towers by Ersavaş Güdül

Captured during a crisp January afternoon in the historic Balat district, this photograph juxtaposes two iconic architectural landmarks: the Phanar Greek Orthodox College and the minaret of Darülmesnevi Camii. The photographer expertly framed these structures to highlight the rich cultural layering of Istanbul, utilizing a fast shutter speed to freeze the ambient light of the winter day. This image is award-worthy for its clean composition and the deliberate way it bridges the gap between different historical and religious traditions, turning a simple neighborhood walk into a compelling study of urban heritage and structural harmony.

Two Towers by Ersavaş Güdül
Pentax K-100D with 18-55mm | Exposure 1/1000sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 200
Copyright © Ersavaş Güdül
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ersavaş Güdül

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Istanbul in 1977, Ersavaş Güdül is a telecommunications professional who balances his technical career with a dedicated passion for photography. Having lived and studied in both Turkey and Germany, he brings a diverse cultural perspective to his work, capturing the architectural nuances of his surroundings with a keen eye. Though he approaches photography as a hobby rather than a full-time pursuit, his ability to document the intersection of history and modern life demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of composition and light.

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14.4/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
416/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
22,064 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date July 27, 2010
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Istanbul, Turkey

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Architectural Photography
Ersavas Gudul Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (14.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,680/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
22,064/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
4/100 Review
Submissions
4.2/5 points
416/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 14.4/20
Total Award Score: 78.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most architectural shots from Istanbul settle for postcard sentimentality, but this frame earns its place. By aligning the red brick of the college with the minaret’s stone, Güdül forces a dialogue between two histories that usually ignore each other. It’s a rare, quiet geometry. I’ve seen thousands of cityscapes, yet this one makes me want to stand on that Balat street corner myself. It’s a document that will still matter when the light changes.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Istanbul’s winter light doesn't reveal; it interrogates. Between the Phanar’s red brick and the minaret’s pale stone, Güdül finds a silence that feels almost heavy enough to crush the frame. I’ve walked these streets, and it’s the shadows here that truly hold the history, not the masonry. They’re cold, sharp, and unforgiving. It’s a haunting geometry. I find myself shivering, not from the January air, but from the realization that these towers are merely waiting for the dark.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The terracotta brick of the Phanar College glows with the bruised, melancholic warmth of a late Vermeer, bleeding into the pale, chalky sky like Morandi’s muted palette. It’s a quiet, shivering brilliance that catches one’s breath in the throat. I’ve found myself utterly transfixed by how the winter light clings to those stones, turning the historic dust of Istanbul into a soft, golden ache that feels almost too fragile to hold against the encroaching, icy shadows.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Istanbul in January is a bitter, bone-chilling affair, yet Güdül has managed to capture the light without it looking like a hurried tourist snap. One wonders how many mornings he spent shivering in Balat before the shadows aligned just so. It’s a clean, disciplined frame. I’ve spent enough hours waiting for stone to catch the right sun to appreciate the patience here. It’s a quiet, earned piece of work. I’d have liked to have been there.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

Stone Against the Sky

We build to outlast the winter. We stack stone upon stone, hoping the weight of our hands will anchor us to a place that is otherwise indifferent to our passing. There is a specific silence in old cities, a hum that vibrates through the mortar when the wind drops.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of Echoes

In the quiet corners of old cities, stone does not merely sit; it remembers. We often think of architecture as a static endeavor—a rigid set of lines meant to hold back the sky or define a boundary.

Read the reflection →

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