The Indian Flag by Yoothika Baruah

Captured on Indian Republic Day, this creative composition reimagines the national flag through the lens of food photography. Yoothika Baruah meticulously arranged masur pulses, sugar, and moong to represent the saffron, white, and green hues of the Indian tricolor. Shot indoors using only external flash lighting, the image demonstrates a keen eye for texture and symbolic representation. The photograph is award-worthy for its ingenuity in transforming everyday pantry staples into a patriotic tribute, showcasing the photographer’s ability to find artistic potential in simple, domestic subjects while maintaining precise technical control over light and color.

The Indian Flag by Yoothika Baruah(c) Light & Composition University
Canon EOS 80D with 50mm | Exposure 1/80sec @ f/5 | ISO 640 | Focal Length 50mm
Copyright Β© Yoothika Baruah
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Yoothika Baruah

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Originally from Assam and currently based in Bangalore, Yoothika Baruah is a versatile photographer whose portfolio spans outdoor portraits, maternity, and food photography. Driven by a passion for learning new perspectives, she excels at capturing the essence of her subjects, whether they are children or culinary arrangements. With aspirations to expand into fashion and travel photography, Baruah is dedicated to refining her craft as a freelancer, consistently delivering high-quality work that resonates with her clients and celebrates the beauty of both human subjects and the natural world.

Profile View Full Profile
12.2/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
203/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
8,622 views | 3 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date May 20, 2019
66.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Bangalore, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Food Photography
Yoothika Baruah Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.2/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,113/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
8,622/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
3/100 Review
Submissions
2.0/5 points
203/500 Submission
Jury Score: 66.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.2/20
Total Award Score: 78.2/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The frame divides into three distinct horizontal bands, creating a perfect 1:1:1 ratio of mass. It’s a rigid, tripartite equation. The granular texture of the pulses provides a chaotic counterpoint to these clean, parallel vectors. I’m genuinely struck by how the sharp, linear boundaries between the masur and moong pulses stabilize the composition’s visual gravity. It’s a beautifully solved spatial problem; the geometry doesn’t just represent a flag, it enforces a mathematical order on the organic.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Pulses and sugar arranged as a flag aren't merely domestic; they’re a quiet defiance against the void. The flash here doesn't illuminate; it interrogates the grain of the masur, forcing the texture to confess its own weight. I’m unsettled by how the shadows cling to the edges of the saffron. It’s not a celebration of nationhood, but a stark reminder that even our symbols are composed of dust, waiting for the dark to reclaim them.
Henrik Johansson Architecture, Built Space & the Conversation Between Structure and Light Expert Review
It’s a curious exercise in scale. By arranging pulses into a tricolor, Baruah creates a miniature landscape, yet I find myself searching for a datum line or a sense of threshold. It’s flattened, lacking the depth of a true built environment, yet the way the flash catches the granular texture of the masur pulses is genuinely lovely. It’s a domestic architecture of the table, though I’d trade the symbolism for a glimpse of the room’s actual light.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of Sustenance

We eat to survive, yet we rarely look at what sustains us. A handful of grain is a history of labor, of rain, of soil turned over by tired hands. It is easy to forget that the things we consume are the same things that build us.

Read the reflection →
By Owen Callister

The Harvest of Belonging

Legumes are the quiet architects of the soil, fixing nitrogen into the earth so that life might sustain itself through the leanest of seasons.

Read the reflection →

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