Children in the Winter Forest by Anastasia Markus

Captured amidst the serene beauty of a snow-dusted forest, this photograph celebrates the pure, unbridled enthusiasm of childhood during the winter season. Anastasia Markus orchestrated a whimsical outing, incorporating a pony to create an engaging and dynamic environment for her young subjects. The resulting image masterfully balances the crisp, ethereal quality of the snowy landscape with the warmth and spontaneity of the children’s play. By focusing on the genuine joy of the moment, the photographer elevates a simple winter walk into a compelling narrative, showcasing her ability to translate fleeting, spirited energy into a timeless and evocative visual story.

Children in the Winter Forest by Anastasia Markus
Canon EOS 1D-X with canon ef 70-200 mm f/2.8
Exposure 1/1000sec @ f/3.2 | ISO 640 | Focal Length 105mm
Copyright Β© Anastasia Markus
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Anastasia Markus

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, Anastasia Markus transitioned from a background in business to a dedicated career in photography, specializing in children’s, family, and wedding portraiture. After a decade-long hiatus, she has returned to the craft with a renewed passion for artistic growth and competitive engagement. Now based in Beer Sheva, Israel, she views the challenges of international photography competitions as a vital catalyst for creative evolution and a means to explore new facets of her visual storytelling.

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9.8/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
136/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
4,544 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 6, 2022
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Kiyv, Ukraine

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Anastasia Markus Photography
Black & White 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
3.0/5 points
600/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
4,544/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.4/5 points
136/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 9.4/20
Total Award Score: 78.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
The inclusion of the pony recalls the pastoral romanticism of Julia Margaret Cameron, yet the 105mm compression flattens the winter forest into a stark, graphic backdrop reminiscent of Bill Brandt’s high-contrast landscapes. It’s a delicate balance; the children’s spontaneity fights the rigidity of the frame. I’ve spent decades cataloging such scenes, but the raw, biting cold captured here actually made me shiver. It’s a rare, haunting intersection of Victorian sentimentality and modern, clinical precision. Truly, it’s quite something.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
We look at these children and the pony, and we feel the bite of the Kyiv winter. But look closer at their eyes; they aren't just playing. They’re finding a quiet sanctuary in the snow, a brief truce from a world turned cold. I’ve spent my life listening to stories, and I can hear their laughter ringing through the trees. It’s a fragile, beautiful defiance. This is a photograph that asks to be returned to.
Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
Winter in Kyiv, June 2022. The juxtaposition hits me like a physical blow. While the city endures a brutal reality, Markus constructs a pristine, whimsical fantasy. Why choose this specific aesthetic of innocence now? Does the pony serve as a prop for a manufactured childhood, or is it a desperate attempt to ignore the encroaching dark? I find the artifice unsettling. Whose comfort are we prioritizing here, the children’s or our own? It’s a beautiful lie.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the children or the pony, something in the chest tightens. It’s the cold, isn't it? The monochrome silence of the Kyiv woods triggers a sudden, sharp intake of breath. I feel a phantom ache in my own lungs, a longing for a safety that feels fragile. When I return to this a year from now, I won’t see a whimsical outing; I’ll see the desperate, beautiful defiance of joy against a winter that never ends.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The shutter speed is a heartbeat. At 1/1000, Markus freezes the chaos of the forest into a perfect, breathless sequence. The pony’s gait, the children’s laughterβ€”it’s a film that refused to move. I’m struck by how the 105mm compression pulls the winter air tight against their faces. It’s the frame the editor keeps because it’s where the story finally breathes. A cut here would’ve been a crime. It’s pure, kinetic magic. I love this.
Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The vertical axis is anchored by the pony, creating a stable fulcrum against the chaotic, diagonal vectors of the children’s movement. Markus utilizes a 1:2 ratio of dark mass to negative white space, forcing the eye toward the center of gravity. It’s a perfectly solved spatial equation. I’m genuinely moved by how the geometry contains such kinetic energy; it’s rare to see such wild, unbridled joy so precisely constrained within a rigid, mathematical frame.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You waited for that exact second when the pony’s breath hung in the freezing air, and the kids’ faces lit up. It’s rare to see such unscripted joy in a world that’s been so heavy lately. And honestly, looking at these children in Kyiv, I felt a lump in my throat. You didn't just photograph a winter walk; you captured a brief, necessary escape. You felt their relief, and because you did, I feel it too.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Isabelle Park

The Quiet Language of Snow

I was walking home through the park this morning when I saw a pair of mittens sitting abandoned on a bench. They were tiny, bright red, and dusted with a thin layer of frost. For a second, I felt a sharp pang of worry, wondering where the hands that belonged to them had gone.

Read the reflection →
By Farida Boussouf

The Weight of White

It is 3:14 am, and the silence in this room feels heavy, like snow that has fallen for days without stopping. There is a specific kind of quiet that comes when the world is buried. It is a stillness that pretends to be peace, but it is really just a pause.

Read the reflection →

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