Passage of the Witches by Mauro Squiz Daviddi

Captured amidst the atmospheric gloom of the Republic of San Marino, this photograph depicts the ethereal 'Passage of the Witches' shrouded in dense, transformative fog. The photographer patiently waited for the perfect moment when the mist rendered the landscape truly magical, balancing the challenging weather conditions to evoke a sense of mystery and timelessness. By masterfully utilizing the interplay between light and the heavy, swirling fog, the image transcends a simple landscape, turning a moody day into a compelling, award-worthy narrative of nature’s quiet, haunting beauty.

Passage of the Witches by Mauro Squiz Daviddi
Exposure 1/800sec @ f/2.8 | ISO 60 | Focal Length 5.8mm
Copyright Β© Mauro Squiz Daviddi
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Mauro Squiz Daviddi

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy, Mauro Squiz Daviddi has cultivated a lifelong passion for photography since picking up his father's Vitoret VoigtlΓ€nder in 1976. A graduate of the Art Institute of Bologna with a Master of Art degree, he has established a distinguished career marked by significant exhibitions at the Museum of Wax Anatomical Bologna and various European cultural projects. His work reflects a deep artistic sensibility, blending technical precision with a profound appreciation for the historical and atmospheric landscapes of his home country.

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11.9/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
156/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
16,372 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date February 28, 2013
67.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 17.0
Style 12.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Republic of San Marino

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Black & White Photography
Mauro Squiz Daviddi Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.6/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
2,054/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
16,372/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.6/5 points
156/500 Submission
Jury Score: 67.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.6/20
Total Award Score: 78.6/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the stone path, something in the chest tightens. The fog doesn’t just obscure San Marino; it swallows the viewer’s peripheral vision, forcing a singular, claustrophobic focus. I’ve felt this exact chill before, a phantom dampness on my skin. When you return to it a year later, the silence isn't peacefulβ€”it’s expectant. It’s the held-breath moment before a ghost appears. It’s a haunting that lingers long after you’ve looked away.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
Fog swallows the stone. It’s a heavy, grey lung breathing against the wall. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the path to reveal its secret. It doesn’t. The void here is thick, intentional. It’s not just mist; it’s a deliberate erasure of the world. I’ve never felt so small in San Marino. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a pause that demands everything I have to give.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The fog here doesn’t just obscure; it breathes. Mauro waited until the stone path dissolved into that heavy, directionless white, turning the Republic of San Marino into a ghost of itself. I’ve spent enough hours in damp, silent places to know he was shivering when he finally pressed the shutter. It’s haunting. Looking at these muted, spectral tones, I feel a sudden, sharp ache for the quiet solitude that only such a morning can provide.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
San Marino’s fog is a fickle companion, usually clearing just as one’s toes go numb. Daviddi clearly didn’t pack up when the damp set in. I’ve spent enough hours shivering on limestone ridges to recognize the look of a man who refused to leave until the mist behaved. It’s a cold, lonely sort of commitment, but the result is haunting. I find myself wanting to pull my coat tighter just looking at it. Well earned.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most fog-drenched landscapes are forgettable, but this one lingers. Of the thousands I’ve reviewed, few capture such genuine dread. The way the silhouettes bleed into the mist isn't just atmospheric; it’s a deliberate erasure of the horizon that forces you to confront the void. I felt a cold shiver looking at it, honestly. It’s the restraint that wins here. By refusing to over-process the shadows, Daviddi ensures this haunting, timeless quality will still unsettle viewers decades from now.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Fog isn't merely weather; it’s the erasure of certainty. In San Marino, Daviddi forces us to confront the void where stone meets vapor. I’ve spent hours staring into these grey, suffocating depths, and it’s unsettling how the architecture dissolves into nothingness. It doesn’t invite the eye to wander; it demands we acknowledge our own blindness. When the light fails to penetrate, the shadows don't just hide the worldβ€”they consume it, leaving only the weight of silence.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Breath of Stone

The air tastes of wet slate and iron. It is a heavy, damp cold that clings to the back of the throat, the kind that settles deep into the marrow of your bones when you stand too long in the shadow of an old wall.

Read the reflection →
By Isabelle Park

Where the Path Dissolves

I took a walk through the woods behind my house this morning, just as the mist was starting to lift. It was one of those days where the air feels heavy and damp, and the world seems to shrink until you can only see a few feet in front of you.

Read the reflection →

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