Shy Little Boy by Chhun Borin

Captured during a November weekend in Siem Reap, this portrait emerged from a spontaneous encounter along the city river. While exploring the area near a local slum, the photographer sought to bridge the gap between observer and subject by engaging the children in conversation. This interaction allowed for a candid, authentic connection that transcends the lens. The image is award-worthy for its poignant ability to humanize its subject, transforming a fleeting street encounter into a timeless study of childhood innocence and resilience, framed with technical precision and genuine empathy.

Shy Little Boy by Chhun Borin
Nikon D90 with Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
Exposure 1/125sec @ f/6.3 | ISO 200 | Focal Length 200mm
Copyright Β© Chhun Borin
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Chhun Borin

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Chhun Borin balances a professional career as a full-time university lecturer with a dedicated passion for photography. He frequently utilizes weekends and public holidays to explore both urban and rural landscapes, documenting the diverse facets of Cambodian life. His work is characterized by a commitment to storytelling and a deep curiosity about the people he encounters during his travels, reflecting a thoughtful approach to portraiture and street photography.

Profile View Full Profile
14.2/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
378/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
20,341 views | 8 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date November 16, 2012
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 16.0
Style 12.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Siem Reap City, Cambodia

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Chhun Borin Photography
Portrait Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (14.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,862/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
20,341/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
5/100 Review
Submissions
3.8/5 points
378/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 14.1/20
Total Award Score: 78.1/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Spontaneity is often just a polite word for luck, yet here, the boy’s guarded gaze suggests a genuine rapport. One suspects Borin didn't just snap and run. He stayed, he talked, he earned that sliver of trust. It’s a rare, quiet intimacy that usually requires hours of sitting in the dust. I’ve spent enough afternoons waiting for a subject to forget the camera is there to know that this stillness wasn't cheap. It’s a fine, honest piece of work.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre dust of Siem Reap clings to the boy’s skin like the muted, earthy pigments of a Morandi still life, yet it’s the sudden, piercing clarity of his eyesβ€”a deep, tidal blueβ€”that truly arrests one. I’m breathless at how this palette doesn’t merely describe poverty, but elevates it into a luminous, painterly grace. It’s a quiet, chromatic ache, where the warmth of the sun-drenched earth harmonizes with the cool, fragile vulnerability of his gaze.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The boy’s face emerges from the gloom like a secret whispered in a tomb. It’s not the innocence that strikes me, but the way the shadow swallows his left eye, forcing us to confront what he’s hiding. I’ve spent hours staring into that dark void, feeling a sudden, sharp ache for the parts of ourselves we bury. Light doesn't reveal him; it only defines the boundaries of his solitude. It’s a haunting, heavy silence.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Clara Menezes

The Architecture of a Glance

We spend our lives building walls, brick by brick, word by word, until we are safely tucked away from the gaze of the world. We learn early that to be seen is to be vulnerable, a soft fruit waiting for the frost.

Read the reflection →
By Isabelle Park

The Weight of a Glance

I was standing in line at the grocery store this morning when a toddler in the cart behind me started staring. Not the curious, fleeting look most kids give, but a steady, unblinking gaze that seemed to weigh me.

Read the reflection →

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