Lightshow on Bosphorus by Ersavaş Güdül

Captured during the vibrant Turkish Republic Day celebrations on October 29, 2008, this image documents the spectacular fireworks display over the Bosphorus. The photographer utilized a long exposure of three seconds to translate the fleeting bursts of light into a fluid, luminous trail against the dark Istanbul sky. By positioning the camera between Üsküdar and Beşiktaş, the composition effectively frames the bridge between two continents. This photograph is award-worthy for its technical precision in low-light conditions and its ability to encapsulate the festive energy and architectural grandeur of a historic city at night.

Lightshow on Bosphorus by Ersavaş Güdül
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 | Exposure 3sec @ f/8 | ISO 100
Copyright © Ersavaş Güdül
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ersavaş Güdül

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Istanbul in 1977, Ersavaş Güdül has cultivated a diverse background through his studies and professional life in both Turkey and Germany. Currently established in the telecommunications industry, he pursues photography as a dedicated hobby, utilizing a versatile range of equipment including Pentax and Nikon systems. His work reflects a keen eye for the atmospheric beauty of his surroundings, capturing the intersection of urban life and natural light with a thoughtful, measured approach.

Profile View Full Profile
12.4/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
224/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
21,921 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date August 27, 2010
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Üsküdar and Beşiktaş, Turkey

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Ersavas Gudul Photography
Night Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.3/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
2,336/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
21,921/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
2.2/5 points
224/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.3/20
Total Award Score: 76.3/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Fireworks are usually vulgar, mere sparks of vanity against the void. Yet here, the Bosphorus swallows the light, forcing the sky to confront its own emptiness. It’s a cold, tectonic dialogue between continents. I’ve stared at these luminous trails for an hour, and they don’t celebrate; they mourn the silence they interrupt. Güdül’s darkness isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the heavy, suffocating gravity that keeps Istanbul from drifting away. It’s haunting, and frankly, it unnerves me.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The Bosphorus dissolves into a bruised, velvet indigo, a depth reminiscent of Turner’s most turbulent nocturnes, against which these pyrotechnic ribbons—shimmering in the acidic, electric gold of a dying star—bleed into the blackness. It’s a chromatic collision that makes my heart ache with its sheer, fleeting intensity. One finds the interplay of these luminous, liquid trails against the city’s obsidian silence utterly intoxicating, a symphony of light that doesn't merely decorate, but defines the night.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Three seconds of exposure on a Lumix LX3 isn't exactly a marathon, but one can’t help but admire the stillness required to keep that bridge steady. It’s a clean bit of work, though I suspect the photographer spent more time dodging crowds than waiting for the heavens to align. Still, I’ve stood on that damp Üsküdar shore enough to know the wind bites. He clearly braved the chill. It’s a respectable, earned view of the Bosphorus.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Hum of Salt and Spark

The air by the water has a specific grit to it, a fine, invisible salt that settles on the skin like a secret. I remember standing on a dock long ago, the wood damp and swollen beneath my bare feet, smelling of wet rope and cold, deep currents.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Architecture of Echoes

In the study of acoustics, there is a phenomenon known as the reverberation time—the duration it takes for a sound to decay into silence after its source has ceased. We often think of sound as a fleeting thing, a momentary disturbance in the air, but in truth, it lingers.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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

4 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Weight of StillnessSilent Trees in a Watery Unset by Mostafa Monwar - Nature Photography, Photo of the Day, Photography Awards, Art Photography, Online Photography CoursesPhoto of the Month | 2010 | June - Photo of the Month, Photography Awards, Photography Education, Online Photography Courses, Art PhotographyInstall Industry by Saniar Rahman RahulThe Weight of Play