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Her Eyes and the Flower by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Captured amidst the ancient landscapes of Bagan, Myanmar, this portrait highlights the profound connection between the photographer and his subject. Drawn to the girl's expressive eyes and the delicate flower she held, the photographer sought to preserve a fleeting moment of natural grace. The image succeeds through its intimate focus and masterful composition, which isolates the subject against the backdrop of her environment. It is this ability to find quiet, human beauty within the vastness of travel that makes the photograph a compelling award-winning portrait, reflecting both the cultural richness of Myanmar and the photographer's keen eye for authentic emotion.

Her Eyes and the Flower by Ryszard Wierzbicki
Copyright Β© Ryszard Wierzbicki
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryszard Wierzbicki

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1963 and a graduate of the University of Gdansk, Ryszard Wierzbicki transitioned from a diverse career in education and marketing to become a dedicated photographer and traveler. Since relocating to the United Kingdom in 2006, he has focused his lens on South-East Asia, frequently volunteering with organizations supporting Burmese and Thai orphans. As the founder of the Instant Travelling and World Around forums, Wierzbicki combines his professional expertise as a marketing advisor with a deep-seated passion for documenting the world's cultures through evocative, human-centered photography.

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13.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
279/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
10,984 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date March 23, 2017
67.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Bagan, Myanmar

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Portrait Photography
Ryszard Wierzbicki Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,422/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
10,984/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.8/5 points
279/500 Submission
Jury Score: 67.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.8/20
Total Award Score: 79.8/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
f/2.8 at 85mm. A classic portrait choice, yet it’s risky. The shallow depth of field isolates the subject, but the focus on the flower is razor-thin. It’s technically precise. I’ve seen enough soft portraits to appreciate when the glass actually hits the mark. The separation from the Bagan background is clean, not muddy. It’s a calculated risk that paid off. I’m genuinely impressed the focus didn’t drift. It’s a rare, disciplined execution.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre dust of Bagan clings to the girl’s skin, a muted, sun-baked terracotta that echoes the crumbling brick of the temples, yet it’s the startling, bruised violet of the flower she holds that truly arrests one’s gaze. It’s a chromatic dissonance I find utterly ravishing, a quiet collision of earth and petal that makes my heart ache with the sheer, fleeting fragility of it all. It’s Vermeer’s light captured in a desert.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The girl’s gaze anchors the frame. Beyond her, the blur of Bagan recedes into soft, ochre dust. It’s the flower that pulls my breath away. A fragile weight against her skin. I’ve spent years looking for this stillness. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner isn't empty; it’s the breath between heartbeats. Wierzbicki doesn't crowd her. He lets the silence hold her. It’s a rare, quiet grace. I could stay here for hours.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Of the thousands of portraits I’ve reviewed, most rely on exoticism to do the heavy lifting. Wierzbicki avoids that trap. The way the flower’s soft texture mirrors the girl’s gaze creates a quiet, locked-in intimacy that feels rare. It’s not just a travel snap; it’s a document of a soul. I find myself returning to her eyes, wondering what she’s thinking. That lingering curiosity is exactly why this will still matter in thirty years.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Bagan’s dust usually swallows the soul, yet here, the shadows cling to the girl’s gaze like a shroud. It’s not the flower that arrests me; it’s the way the darkness behind her refuses to yield, forcing her fragile humanity into a sharp, uncomfortable relief. I’ve felt that same heavy silence in a Tarkovsky frame. She doesn’t invite us in. She survives the light, and frankly, I find her resistance deeply, hauntingly necessary.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Isabelle Park

The Weight of a Glance

I was standing in the grocery store aisle this morning, trying to decide between two brands of tea, when a little girl in the cart next to me caught my eye.

Read the reflection →
By Marta Vidal

The Weight of a Petal

I keep a pressed jasmine flower inside the pages of a dictionary, its color long ago surrendered to the dry, brittle shade of parchment. It is a fragile thing, so thin that it threatens to crumble into dust if I breathe too heavily upon it.

Read the reflection →

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