Sunset on Epi Island by Stefanie Laroussinie

Captured during a traditional canoe race on Epi Island, this photograph immortalizes the vibrant intersection of local culture and the serene beauty of Vanuatu. As cruising yachts gathered to share in the festivities, the photographer seized the moment to document the golden light washing over the paradise landscape. The image is award-worthy for its evocative storytelling, successfully blending the rhythmic energy of the race with the tranquil, warm hues of a Pacific sunset, ultimately reflecting a profound connection between the photographer and the spirit of the island.

Sunset on Epi Island by Stefanie Laroussinie
Copyright Β© Stefanie Laroussinie
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Stefanie Laroussinie

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in France, Stefanie Laroussinieβ€”often known by her nickname Jackyβ€”has nurtured a deep passion for photography since her childhood. After spending much of her life in Paris, she embraced a transformative journey four years ago, choosing to live as a free-spirited traveler. Currently, she explores the globe by boat with her partner, documenting the world's most breathtaking locations and finding artistic inspiration in the simple, nomadic lifestyle she has chosen to pursue.

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12.4/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
208/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
23,004 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date September 27, 2010
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Epi Island, Vanuatu

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Stefanie Laroussinie Photography
Sunrise & Sunset Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.2/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,920/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
23,004/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
2.1/5 points
208/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.2/20
Total Award Score: 76.2/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most sunset shots are just pretty wallpaper, but this one survives because of the tension between the racing outrigger and the fading light. I’ve seen thousands of Pacific sunsets, yet the way the canoe cuts through the reflection makes the scene feel urgent rather than passive. It’s the rare shot that captures a fleeting tradition without feeling staged. Honestly, looking at it makes me miss the salt air. It’s a keeper for the archives.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Golden light is a seduction, yet here it’s the encroaching obsidian of the hull that demands my attention. Laroussinie captures the canoe not as a vessel of leisure, but as a jagged silhouette carving through the Pacific’s indifference. It’s a brutal, necessary interruption. I’ve stared at these shadows until my eyes ached, feeling the weight of the water’s silence. When the sun finally dies, we’re left with the truth: the light doesn’t reveal; it only hides.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
It’s easy to snap a sunset from a yacht’s deck, glass in hand. But catching the rhythmic tension of those outriggers against that specific, bruised Pacific light? That’s a different matter. One suspects Laroussinie didn’t just happen upon this; she likely spent days enduring the humidity and the sandflies to earn that precise alignment. I’ve spent enough time in similar heat to appreciate the grit here. It’s a rare, honest bit of work. Well earned.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The light here doesn’t merely fall; it bruises the horizon with the bruised apricot and bruised violet of a Turner sky, bleeding into the Pacific until the water mimics the molten, honeyed viscosity of a Vermeer interior. It’s a chromatic ache, really, that makes one’s chest tighten with a sudden, sharp longing for the salt-stung air. I’ve rarely seen such a fragile, fleeting harmony between the warmth of the dying sun and the cool, encroaching tide.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

Salt on the Skin

The air near the water has a weight to it, thick with the sharp, metallic tang of brine and the damp rot of driftwood. I remember the way the heat used to press against my shoulders, a heavy blanket that smelled of coconut oil and sun-warmed sand.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of the Horizon

In the quiet hours of the morning, before the world begins its frantic climb toward noon, there is a peculiar stillness that settles over the edges of things.

Read the reflection →

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