Playing Stapoo by Lavi Dhurve

Captured in the soft light of a July morning, this poignant image documents a quiet moment of childhood innocence. As the sun rises, Lavi Dhurve’s younger brother, Yuvraz, engages in a solitary game of Stapooβ€”a traditional Indian hopscotch variant. The photographer masterfully frames the scene to emphasize the simplicity of village life, where a child’s imagination transforms a humble outdoor space into a playground. The composition is award-worthy for its ability to elevate a fleeting, everyday activity into a timeless narrative of resilience and joy, highlighting the beauty found in the quiet corners of the Indian countryside.

Playing Stapoo by Lavi Dhurve(c) Light & Composition
Copyright Β© Lavi Dhurve
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Lavi Dhurve

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Hailing from a small village in Madhya Pradesh, the 'Heart of India,' Lavi Dhurve finds profound inspiration in the rhythms of rural life. Her photographic practice is deeply rooted in a love for art, culture, and the human spirit, with a particular focus on capturing the beauty of children and the natural world. By documenting the simple elegance of her surroundings, from the glow of a sunrise to the daily lives of her community, she seeks to share her optimistic perspective on the inherent beauty of existence.

Profile View Full Profile
11.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
136/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
10,238 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date August 21, 2018
67.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Sarni, Betul, Madhya Pradesh, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Black & White Photography
Lavi Dhurve Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,088/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
10,238/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.4/5 points
136/500 Submission
Jury Score: 67.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.4/20
Total Award Score: 78.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You didn’t just photograph a game; you caught the exact second a boy forgets the world exists. Watching Yuvraz focused on those chalk lines, I’m reminded of my own childhood in the dust. It’s quiet, but it’s loud with life. You waited for that stillness, and it pays off. Because you were there with him, I can feel the humidity of that July morning. There’s something honest happening here. You’ve captured a real, breathing moment.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Stapoo’s geometry echoes the stark, chalked grids of Helen Levitt’s New York streets, yet here, the dust of Madhya Pradesh softens the edges. It’s a quiet, rhythmic composition that avoids the sentimentality often plaguing rural documentation. I’m genuinely struck by the way the light catches the boy’s posture; it’s a fleeting, tactile grace I haven’t seen captured quite this way in years. It’s not just a game; it’s a profound, dusty meditation on childhood’s universal architecture.
Kofi Asante Intimate Portraiture, Reportage & Lives Told Truthfully Expert Review
There’s a quiet grace in how Yuvraz occupies that dusty ground. He isn’t performing for a lens; he’s lost in the geometry of his game. It’s clear he trusts his brother enough to forget he’s even there. That’s the secret to a real portrait. Looking at his focused stance, I’m reminded of my own childhood in the dirt. This face has a whole life in it, captured with the gentle patience of a sibling who truly sees.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
In the soft dust of Sarni, we find young Yuvraz caught in the rhythm of Stapoo. It’s a quiet, solitary dance. Before Lavi clicked the shutter, I suspect he sat with his brother, listening to the scrape of stone against earth. We see that patience in the boy’s focused gaze. It’s a beautiful, fleeting stillness that makes my heart ache for the simplicity of my own childhood. This is a photograph that asks to be returned to.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
In this monochrome study, the absence of pigment doesn't diminish the light; it’s a charcoal-dusted meditation on texture, reminiscent of Morandi’s hushed, dusty still lifes. The silver-grey light clinging to the boy’s skin feels like damp stone at dawn. I’m truly moved by how the shadows pool like ink in the cracks of the earth. It’s a quiet, aching symphony of greys that whispers of childhood, where the lack of colour feels like a profound, necessary truth.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Stapoo isn’t merely a game here; it’s a geometry of longing etched into the dust. Dhurve understands that shadows are the architecture of memory. When I look at Yuvraz’s solitary leap, I’m struck by a sudden, sharp ache for my own lost stillness. The light doesn’t reveal the child; it defines the boundaries of his world. It’s a heavy, silent resistance against the encroaching void. We don’t just watch him play; we watch him endure.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Geometry of Dust

We draw lines on the earth to feel less lost. A square, a circle, a path marked out with stones or chalk. It is a way of saying: here is where I stand, and here is where I might go next.

Read the reflection →
By Owen Callister

The Architecture of Play

Mycelium networks do not grow in straight lines; they follow the path of least resistance, branching out to find nutrients in the dark, damp soil.

Read the reflection →

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