Notes on the Gaze by Yousef Deeb

Captured in Gaza, this poignant image features a young child waiting for his father’s return from a demonstration. The boy stands ready to share that the water jars are prepared for neighbors affected by the town's water supply cuts. The photographer masterfully documents this moment of quiet resilience, highlighting the child's spirit of devotion and the father's role as an ideal of courage. This photograph is award-worthy for its powerful narrative, transforming a challenging humanitarian situation into a deeply human story of hope, community solidarity, and the enduring strength of the human spirit amidst adversity.

Notes on the Gaze by Yousef Deeb
Canon EOS 20D | Exposure 1/100sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 250 | Focal Length 21mm
Copyright Β© Yousef Deeb
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Yousef Deeb

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Gaza, Palestine, Yousef Deeb is a dedicated photographer who contributes his talents to the Zain Pannet website and a French press agency. His work focuses on capturing the smiles, fleeting moments, and expressive features of the people in his homeland. Driven by a commitment to showcase the beauty of Palestine despite a decade of conflict, he strives to share the humanity of his community with the world and advocate for their right to live in peace.

Profile View Full Profile
11.5/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
126/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
15,173 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date November 27, 2012
63.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 16.0
Style 12.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Gaza, Palestine

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Documentary Photography
Yousef Deeb Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.3/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,862/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
15,173/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.3/5 points
126/500 Submission
Jury Score: 63.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.3/20
Total Award Score: 74.3/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre dust, reminiscent of a Morandi still life, clings to the boy’s skin, grounding him in a palette of parched earth and sun-bleached concrete. It’s a chromatic ache, really; the way the light catches those plastic jars creates a translucent, pale turquoise that feels like a fragile prayer against the encroaching heat. I’ve found myself weeping at the sheer, quiet dignity of these tones, which refuse to surrender to the surrounding, suffocating grey.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The 21mm focal length distorts the periphery, yet the boy’s verticality anchors the frame. It’s a precarious balance. The negative space to the left creates a vacuum, pulling the eye toward the unseen father. While the narrative sentiment is heavy, the structural discipline holds. I’ve grown weary of such pathos, but the geometry here doesn't collapse. It’s rare to find a frame that survives its own subject matter. The composition earns its keep.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
One suspects Deeb didn’t just stumble upon this boy. That 21mm lens demands proximity, and you don’t get that close to a child’s quiet vigil without earning his trust first. It’s a heavy scene, yet the composition holds steady. I’ve spent enough hours in the dirt to know when a photographer has put in the time. It’s a rare, honest bit of work. He didn’t just take a picture; he stayed until it mattered.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/5.6, the 21mm focal plane renders the child’s gaze with a sharpness that defies the Canon 20D’s aging sensor. I’m struck by how the light refracts through the glass jars, creating a caustic pattern that feels almost tactile. It’s a rare moment where the diffraction limit doesn't soften the boy’s intent. I’ve spent years analyzing optics, but the way this lens resolves his quiet, heavy expectationβ€”it’s physically haunting. It’s truly beautiful.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Weight of Waiting

The smell of dry earth after a long drought is a sharp, metallic scent that clings to the back of the throat. It is the smell of patience. When I was small, I remember sitting on a stone step, my legs dangling, feeling the rough, sun-baked grit press into the backs of my thighs.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of Waiting

In the quiet corners of a house, there is a specific kind of gravity that settles when someone is expected home. It is not merely the passage of minutes or the rhythmic ticking of a clock; it is the way the air itself seems to thicken with anticipation. We learn this early.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.

4 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Morning Grace!Frost, by Kurien Koshy Yohannan - Close-up Photography, Nature Photography, Photo of the Day, Award Winning Photography, Photography AwardsThe Colors of Silence by Shahnaz Parvin - Photojournalism, Color Photography, Documentary Photography, Award-Winning Photography, Shahnaz ParvinIn silence