A Cliché by Ali Berrada

Capturing a quintessential Parisian landmark from the unique vantage point of a river boat, the photographer sought to transcend the familiar nature of this iconic site. By focusing on the subtle interplay of a tricolor flag and a resting bird, the image transforms a common tourist cliché into a quiet, contemplative study of the city. This award-worthy photograph succeeds through its deliberate composition and the photographer's ability to find stillness amidst a bustling, world-famous location, offering a fresh, personal perspective on a scene captured by thousands every day.

A Cliché by Ali Berrada
Canon EOS Kiss X3 | Exposure 1/200sec @ f/8 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 18mm
Copyright © Ali Berrada
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ali Berrada

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Hailing from Casablanca, Morocco, Ali Berrada is a dedicated freelance photographer who views the world through a lens of simplicity and creative discovery. As a self-described citizen of the earth, he travels extensively in pursuit of the perfect light, aiming to freeze fleeting moments into lasting memories. His work reflects a deep passion for photography, focusing on the beauty found in the void and the quiet, instant details that define our shared human experience.

Profile View Full Profile
12.3/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
195/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
17,557 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date October 6, 2011
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Paris, France

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Ali Berrada Photography
Travel Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,635/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
17,557/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
2.0/5 points
195/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.1/20
Total Award Score: 76.1/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Paris is a graveyard of postcards, yet here, the shadows don't merely cling to the stone; they interrogate it. Berrada’s bird, perched against the tricolor, isn't just a detail—it’s a silent witness to the city’s exhaustion. I’ve stared at this frame until my eyes ached, feeling the weight of that dark, encroaching river. It’s a cold, lonely stillness. Most photographers fear this void, but Berrada lets the darkness breathe. It’s haunting, really.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Paris is a graveyard of tired postcards, yet Berrada found a pulse here. Of the thousands of Eiffel Tower shots I’ve reviewed, most are just noise. By anchoring the frame with that resting bird against the tricolor flag, he forces us to ignore the monument’s scale and notice its silence instead. It’s a quiet, stubborn defiance of the cliché. Honestly, it made me stop and breathe for a second. That’s why it’ll still matter in thirty years.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Paris is a graveyard for original thought, yet here we are. Most tourists snap the landmark and scurry off for a croissant. Berrada, however, lingered. That bird didn't just land; it waited for the photographer to commit to the frame. I’ve spent enough hours shivering on the Seine to know that stillness isn't found, it’s bought. It’s a quiet, decent bit of work. He actually stayed long enough to see the city breathe.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The tricolor’s bruised indigo against the Seine’s pale, mercury-slicked surface evokes a Morandi-esque stillness that’s frankly breathtaking. It’s not merely a flag; it’s a shivering vibration of cerulean and slate, grounding the bird’s charcoal silhouette in a light so quintessentially Parisian it aches. One finds oneself drifting within this chromatic hush, where the familiar landmark dissolves into a delicate, atmospheric alchemy of grey-blue tones that I’ve rarely seen captured with such quiet, luminous grace.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The river boat hums, yet Ali finds a pocket of silence. He stood there as the light caught the tricolor, waiting for the bird to settle. It’s a quiet defiance of the tourist rush. I’ve spent hours watching such stillness, and it moves me to see the city breathe like this. He didn't just capture a landmark; he listened to the river’s rhythm until the scene finally gave itself up to his lens.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of the Familiar

In the nineteenth century, the French poet Baudelaire spoke of the flâneur—the stroller, the idler, the one who wanders the city streets with no purpose other than to observe.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Weight of Familiarity

We often mistake the repetition of a thing for its exhaustion. We walk past the same stone walls, the same iron gates, the same silhouettes etched against the sky, and we tell ourselves we have seen them enough.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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

6 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 Mirror’s Secret LanguageDeceiving by Arnab Pal - Abstract Photography, Photography Awards, Nature Photography, Online Photography Courses, Photo of the DayJoy in Every Drops, by Prasanta Singha - Motion Photography, Photojournalism, Street Photography, Photography Awards, Art PhotographyThe Architecture of Laughter