Boys in India by Kristian Bertel

Captured in the historic city of Varanasi, this poignant portrait features two young boys against the backdrop of a culture deeply intertwined with the sacred Ganges. The photographer utilized a shallow depth of field to isolate the subjects, emphasizing their expressions and the raw reality of their environment. This image is award-worthy for its masterful balance of technical precision and human empathy, offering a window into the daily lives of India’s youth. By focusing on the human condition, the photographer elevates a simple street encounter into a compelling narrative about resilience and the enduring spirit of life in North India.

Boys in India by Kristian Bertel
Nikon D200 | Exposure 1/180sec @ f/2.8 | ISO 125
Copyright Β© Kristian Bertel
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Kristian Bertel

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Aarhus, Denmark, Kristian Bertel has dedicated his career to capturing the profound human narratives found within travel photography. Since beginning his practice in 2006, he has become widely recognized for his extensive, long-term documentation of life in India. His work serves as a powerful social commentary, focusing on the daily struggles, living conditions, and the resilience of street children, consistently blending technical skill with a deep, empathetic commitment to storytelling.

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13.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
288/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
15,277 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date October 7, 2014
59.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 15.0
Style 11.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Varanasi, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Kristian Bertel Photography
Portrait Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,872/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
15,277/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.9/5 points
288/500 Submission
Jury Score: 59.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.9/20
Total Award Score: 71.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/180sec at f/2.8, ISO 125 on a D200. The sensor’s CCD architecture renders skin tones with a clinical accuracy modern CMOS sensors often lack. At f/2.8, the focal plane is razor-thin, forcing the viewer’s eye exactly where it belongs. It’s a calculated risk that paid off. I’ve stared at these boys for ten minutes, and the technical discipline here is undeniable. It’s rare to see such restraint in street portraiture. The math holds up.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/2.8, the Nikon D200’s sensor captures a razor-thin focal plane that isolates these boys from the chaotic Varanasi backdrop. The bokeh, a function of that wide aperture, renders the background into a soft, chromatic wash, yet the boys’ eyes remain sharp enough to reveal the subtle refraction of the Ganges light. It’s physically precise, but honestly, the vulnerability in their gaze hits me harder than the optics. I’ve rarely seen such raw humanity resolved so perfectly.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Varanasi isn't just a place; it’s a furnace of existence. These boys emerge from the gloom like ghosts clinging to the threshold of the Ganges. I’m struck by how the shadows don’t just frame them; they consume the edges of their reality. It’s a heavy, suffocating darkness that forces us to confront what isn't being said. When I look at their eyes, I don’t see resilience. I see the terrifying weight of time itself.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most street portraits in Varanasi rely on the exoticism of the Ganges to do the heavy lifting. This one doesn't. By pinning the focus strictly on the boys’ eyes at f/2.8, Bertel forces us to confront their specific, unvarnished gaze. It’s a quiet, unsettling intimacy that makes me look away, then look back. In thirty years, the background will be a historical footnote, but that look of guarded resilience will still be hauntingly relevant.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Weight of Shared Silence

I remember sitting on a low stone wall in a small village in the Peloponnese, watching two brothers share a single piece of bread. They weren't talking, and they weren't looking at me. They were simply existing in that easy, unhurried rhythm that only children seem to master.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Unwritten Map of Youth

We are all born with a geography of wonder, a landscape that has not yet been mapped by the heavy hand of experience.

Read the reflection →

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