By the River by Silvia Bukovac Gasevic

In By the River, Silvia Bukovac Gasevic captures the ethereal stillness of a landscape through a masterful 27-minute long exposure. By utilizing a 17mm wide-angle lens paired with a powerful ND 1000 filter, the photographer transformed the rushing water into a silky, dreamlike expanse. Standing in the shallow river with a tripod, the photographer embraced the patience required for such a technical feat, including the necessary noise reduction time. This image is award-worthy for its profound sense of tranquility and the technical precision required to balance the natural light, resulting in a serene, painterly interpretation of the German riverbank.

By the River by Silvia Bukovac GasevicBy the River by Silvia Bukovac Gasevic
Exposure 27 minutes | Focal Length 17mm
Copyright Β© the River by Silvia Bukovac Gasevic
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

the River by Silvia Bukovac Gasevic

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Croatia and currently based in Trier, Germany, Silvia Bukovac Gasevic is a dedicated photographer with a deep passion for nature and wildlife. As a freelancer for three international photo agencies, she constantly pursues the perfect aesthetic moment, carrying her camera wherever she travels. Her work is defined by a relentless search for beauty in the natural world, driven by a creative philosophy that seeks to elevate everyday scenes into compelling, artistic narratives.

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9.6/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
65/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
5,834 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date February 12, 2021
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Irrel, Germany

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Nature Photography
Silvia Bukovac Gasevic Photography
the River by Silvia Bukovac Gasevic Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (9.2/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
3.5/5 points
705/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
5,834/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.7/5 points
65/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 9.2/20
Total Award Score: 78.2/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes standing in an Irrel riverbed is a fine way to catch a chill, though I’ve certainly spent longer shivering for less. It’s a quiet, disciplined bit of work. One suspects the water’s silkiness wasn’t found, but negotiated with the current. The composition holds together without leaning on the usual wide-angle gimmicks. It’s a rare pleasure to see someone actually commit to the tripod. She clearly earned this stillness. I’d have stayed for the dawn.
Rosa Park-Chen Sports, Action & the Fraction of a Second That Matters Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes of exposure is the antithesis of my world. I’m wired to hunt the millisecond where muscle fibers snap and gravity loses its grip. Here, there’s no peak moment, just a blur of motion smoothed into submission. It’s technically clean, sure, but it leaves me cold. I’ve spent my life chasing the precise instant of maximum tension; watching this river turn into static silk feels like watching a race that never actually starts.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The 17mm focal length stretches the foreground, yet the composition doesn't collapse. The long exposure flattens the water into a singular, static plane, creating a necessary counterweight to the jagged, immovable rock formations. It’s a rigid architecture of liquid and stone. I’ve rarely seen such a disciplined use of negative space in a landscape. The frame holds because the horizon line refuses to yield. It’s cold, precise, and entirely devoid of unnecessary noise.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes of stillness. Silvia didn't just capture the river; she surrendered to its rhythm. I feel a sudden, quiet ache in my own shoulders looking at this, remembering the cold dampness of standing in moving water. The long exposure has smoothed the chaos into a meditative veil. It’s as if the light itself stopped to breathe, turning the German riverbank into a sanctuary. She didn't force the shot; she simply waited for the river’s permission.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes of exposure. The water isn't flowing; it’s breathing. I’m standing there, feeling the cold current against my own shins, watching the river turn into a ghost of itself. It’s a long take that refuses to cut, holding the silence of Irrel in a single, velvet frame. The 17mm lens pulls the horizon wide, stretching the stillness until it aches. It’s a rare, beautiful patience. I’d keep this shot in the final edit.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes is a long time to stand in cold water. I’ve spent enough hours waiting for the light to know that kind of stillness changes a person. You didn’t just capture a river; you surrendered to it. It’s quiet, almost unnervingly so. When I look at those blurred currents, I feel the chill on your skin. You were patient, and because of that, the water finally stopped hiding its secrets from you. Good work.
Henrik Johansson Architecture, Built Space & the Conversation Between Structure and Light Expert Review
Twenty-seven minutes of exposure turns the river into a static datum, a ghostly plane that erases the kinetic energy of the water. It’s a bold choice, but it flattens the threshold between the solid rock and the fluid void. I’m struck by how the long exposure softens the fenestration of the trees, turning nature into architecture. It’s haunting, really. I find myself wishing for the chaos of the current to remind me of the space's true scale.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Layla Ibrahim

The Weight of Stillness

Dear traveler, I have been thinking about the way we try to hold onto things that are meant to move. We stand by the edge of a current, watching the water rush past, and we feel this desperate, quiet ache to stop the clock.

Read the reflection →
By Marta Vidal

The Weight of Water

I keep a smooth, grey river stone on my desk, worn down by years of current until it fits perfectly into the palm of my hand. It is a heavy, silent thing, yet it holds the memory of a thousand miles of travel.

Read the reflection →

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