Ride a Horse by Fidan Nazim Qizi

Captured in the rugged landscapes of Quba, Azerbaijan, this evocative black and white photograph explores the timeless bond between human and horse. By stripping away the distraction of color, the photographer emphasizes the raw texture of the environment and the quiet intensity of the moment. The image serves as a poignant reflection on the enduring role of horses in both practical labor and emotional connection. Its award-worthy quality lies in the masterful use of monochromatic tones to convey a sense of stillness and history, transforming a simple scene into a powerful narrative of heritage and human-animal synergy.

Ride a Horse by Fidan Nazim Qizi
Copyright Β© Fidan Nazim Qizi
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Fidan Nazim Qizi

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Fidan Nazim Qizi continues to reside in her home city while frequently traveling abroad to document the natural world. Deeply inspired by the work of Vivian Maier, she specializes in black and white photography, viewing the medium as a vital source of energy and emotional inspiration. Her practice is driven by a profound love for hiking and mountainous landscapes, which often serve as the backdrop for her evocative, monochromatic explorations of life and nature.

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9.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
72/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
7,970 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date December 9, 2020
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 17.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Quba, Azerbaijan

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Black & White Photography
Fidan Nazim Qizi Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (9.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
3.7/5 points
732/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
7,970/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.7/5 points
72/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 9.4/20
Total Award Score: 73.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Deepa Krishnan Underwater Photography, Marine Environments & Subsurface Optics Expert Review
Seeing this horse in Quba, I’m struck by the absence of the blue-green filter I’m so used to fighting. Down at depth, light is stolen, and we’re constantly battling backscatter and refractive distortion. Here, the monochromatic contrast captures the texture of the horse’s coat with a clarity that’s impossible in the water column. It’s refreshing to see such sharp, clean lines without worrying about the physics of light absorption. I’d love to see this intensity underwater.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The shutter caught a breath before the gallop. It’s a wide shot, the Quba landscape stretching out like a silent set waiting for action. The horse and rider are perfectly blocked, held in a stillness that feels heavy with history. I’ve spent years watching frames like this, and I’m genuinely moved by the grit here. The cut would have been a mistake; this is the frame the editor keeps because it’s where the story lives.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
In the rugged silence of Quba, we find a conversation held in the dust. Fidan Nazim Qizi didn’t just capture a rider; she listened to the rhythm of a life lived alongside a horse. We look at the man’s steady gaze and we understand the weight of his heritage. It’s a quiet, grounding connection that makes me ache for the open plains. This is a photograph that asks to be returned to, again and again.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Quba’s dust doesn't merely settle here; it clings to the horse’s flank like a forgotten memory. Fidan Nazim Qizi understands that light is a violent intrusion upon the silence of the landscape. I’m unsettled by how the shadows swallow the rider’s eyes, turning a simple trek into a descent into the void. It’s not a portrait of labor, but a confrontation with the abyss. I’ve never felt such a heavy, suffocating stillness in a frame before.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Quba’s dust doesn't settle for tourists. One suspects Fidan didn't just stumble upon this rider; she likely spent days shivering in the thin mountain air, waiting for the horse to stop fidgeting and the light to finally behave. It’s a quiet, gritty piece of work. I’ve spent enough mornings in similar terrain to recognize the ache in those muscles. She didn't find this moment; she earned it. It’s a rare, honest bit of patience.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Daniel Ferreira

The Geography of Belonging

We often mistake the periphery for the empty. When we look at landscapes that exist far from the dense, vertical grids of the metropolis, we tend to project a sense of stillness onto them, as if these places are merely waiting for the city to arrive.

Read the reflection →
By Beatriz Andrade

The Rhythm of the Unpaved

I often find myself wandering the periphery of the city, where the manicured boulevards surrender to the dust and the wilder edges of the map.

Read the reflection →

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