Before Say Good Bye by Sarin Soman

Captured at the iconic Dubai Creek, this evocative sunset photograph, titled 'Before Say Good Bye,' masterfully documents the transition of light as day turns to dusk. The photographer was drawn to the rhythmic return of birds to their nests, using the setting sun as a poignant metaphor for departure and the promise of renewal. By focusing on the interplay of silhouettes against the fading horizon, the image captures a serene, reflective mood. It is this ability to translate a fleeting moment of natural beauty into a narrative of hope and quiet farewell that makes the work truly award-worthy.

Before Say Good Bye by Sarin Soman
Copyright Β© Sarin Soman
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Sarin Soman

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Originally from India, Sarin Soman is a software engineer currently living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He began his photographic journey in 2005, evolving from a casual hobbyist into a dedicated student of technical composition and artistic execution by 2009. Deeply passionate about his craft, Soman views his camera as an essential companion and aspires to transition into a full-time professional career, continually refining his vision through the study of light and the diverse landscapes of his adopted home.

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12.9/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
224/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
18,659 views | 14 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date August 1, 2010
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Dubai Creek, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Sarin Soman Photography
Sunrise & Sunset Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.7/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,632/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
18,659/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.5/5 points
10/100 Review
Submissions
2.2/5 points
224/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.7/20
Total Award Score: 76.7/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Dubai Creek isn't merely a waterway; it’s a threshold. Soman’s silhouettes don’t just fly; they surrender to the encroaching void. I’ve stared at these birds until my eyes ached, feeling the heavy, suffocating silence of a sun that refuses to linger. It’s a brutal, honest subtraction of color. When light dies here, it doesn’t offer hope. It demands an accounting of what we’ve left behind in the dark. It’s a haunting, necessary erasure.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Dubai Creek at dusk is a chaotic, humid affair. Most would have packed up once the sun hit the horizon, but Soman clearly lingered for the birds. It’s a quiet, disciplined frame. I’ve spent enough evenings swatting mosquitoes in similar heat to appreciate the patience required to time those silhouettes against the fading glow. It’s a rare, earned moment of stillness in a city that rarely stops moving. One suspects he didn't just get lucky.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre of the Dubai Creek horizon bleeds into a bruised violet, a palette reminiscent of Turner’s most melancholic Venetian studies, where the light doesn't merely fade but dissolves into a liquid, heavy silence. It’s a haunting, chromatic surrender that makes my chest ache with the weight of things left unsaid. One finds the silhouettes aren't just shapes, but dark, rhythmic anchors holding the sky’s fleeting, golden warmth against the encroaching, inevitable indigo of night.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Of the thousands of sunset shots I’ve reviewed, most are just pretty colors. What separates this from the pack is the deliberate tension between the heavy, grounded silhouettes and the encroaching dark. It’s a quiet, aching frame. I’ll admit, the birds’ flight path genuinely caught my breath. It’s not just a record of Dubai Creek; it’s a meditation on endings. In thirty years, this stillness will still feel like a heavy, necessary goodbye.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of Leaving

We spend our lives preparing for departures. We pack bags, we lock doors, we rehearse the final words that never quite land where we intend. There is a specific heaviness to the hour when the light begins to fail, a thinning of the air that suggests everything is temporary.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Architecture of Leaving

In the quiet hours of the late afternoon, the world seems to hold its breath, as if waiting for a signal to begin the slow process of folding itself away.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.

14 replies
  4. ouToFfocuS, says:

    wonderful shot my friend… i love the silhouettes and the framing,,, good composition…

    Happy friendship day.. :)

    Reply
  8. Anupama Menon says:

    Dear Sarin,
    Good Evening!A sunset is always a beautiful shot.The creek,the birds returning home,the colourful sky provide a feast to the eyes.
    As usual,your photos are amazing!Between,you reminded my Dubai trip.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Happy Friendship Day!

    Reply

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