Tashiding Buddhist Monastery by Sergiy Kadulin

During a 2010 Himalayan trek through Eastern Sikkim, the photographer captured the serene atmosphere of the Tashiding Buddhist Monastery. Focusing on the intricate Mani stone slabs near the entrance, the image highlights the spiritual weight of this site, known as 'The Devoted Central Glory.' The composition masterfully balances the weathered texture of the sacred stones against the backdrop of one of Sikkim’s oldest and most revered monasteries. This photograph is award-worthy for its ability to translate the profound silence and historical sanctity of the location into a compelling visual narrative, reflecting both technical precision and a deep respect for the cultural heritage of the region.

Tashiding Buddhist Monastery by Sergiy Kadulin
Canon 5D Mark II with EF 24-70 f/2.8L | Exposure 1/200sec @ f/5 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 25mm
Copyright Β© Sergiy Kadulin
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Sergiy Kadulin

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1967, Sergiy Kadulin balances a distinguished career in the information technology sector with a profound, lifelong devotion to photography. After mastering traditional film techniques and darkroom processing in his youth, he transitioned to digital workflows and further refined his craft through professional studies at the Kyiv School of Photography and the New York Institute of Photography. Specializing in travel and landscape photography, Kadulin seeks to capture the warmth of the world and the beauty of nature, using his lens as a medium to share his personal journey of internal growth and global exploration.

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12.0/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
182/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
18,098 views | 3 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date April 25, 2013
66.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 16.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Tashiding monastery, Western Sikkim, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Sergiy Kadulin Photography
Travel Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.0/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,456/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
18,098/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
3/100 Review
Submissions
1.8/5 points
182/500 Submission
Jury Score: 66.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.0/20
Total Award Score: 78.0/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The Mani stones sit heavy. They don't demand attention. They simply exist. I’ve spent minutes staring at the blurred monastery wall behind them, and it’s the distance between the two that catches my breath. It’s quiet here. The texture of the rock meets the soft, out-of-focus air. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a pause. I feel a sudden, sharp ache to be standing exactly where he stood.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Mani stones shouldn't merely sit in the frame; they must anchor the void. Kadulin’s Sikkim captures the friction between weathered granite and the encroaching Himalayan gloom. It’s here that I feel a sudden, cold shiverβ€”the realization that these carvings aren't just art, but prayers carved against oblivion. The shadows don't hide the monastery; they define its silence. It’s a heavy, necessary darkness. When light fails to interrogate the stone, the soul of the place remains unsaid.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/200sec at f/5, 25mm, ISO 100. It’s a safe, clinical aperture choice. At 25mm, f/5 provides enough depth to keep the Mani stones sharp without turning the monastery background into a smear. It’s technically sound, though I’d have preferred a tighter stop to sharpen the distant architecture. Still, the exposure is dead on. I’ve spent enough time in the mountains to know that light like this is rare. He didn’t waste it. It’s precise work.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Weight of Prayer

The air in the mountains has a specific grit to it, a thin, cold sharpness that tastes of dry lichen and ancient stone.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Weight of Whispers

Stone is merely earth that has forgotten how to move, yet it remembers everything else. We carve our prayers into rock, hoping that if we press our intentions deep enough into the grain, they might outlast the fleeting pulse of our own lives.

Read the reflection →

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