Be Different by Zahraa Al Hassani

In the vibrant atmosphere of a Turkish bazaar, the photographer discovered a striking visual metaphor among a display of vegetables. A single, uniquely marked tomato stood out from the rest, immediately capturing her attention and lens. This moment of discovery sparked a profound reflection on individuality, serving as a reminder that one should embrace their authentic self rather than attempting to conform. The image is award-worthy for its ability to transform a simple, everyday scene into a poignant conceptual statement, masterfully using shallow depth of field to isolate the subject and emphasize its distinct character.

Be Different by Zahraa Al Hassani
Nikon D3100 with Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
Exposure 1/60sec @ f/1.8 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 50mm
Copyright Β© Zahraa Al Hassani
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Zahraa Al Hassani

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Baghdad, Iraq, Zahraa Al Hassani is a dedicated graphic designer and photographer who balances a professional career at Zain Telecommunications with her creative pursuits. A graduate of the University of Technology Baghdad, she leverages her extensive background in graphic design to refine her photographic perspective and visual storytelling. Her work is driven by a desire to acquire knowledge within the realm of purist photography, often using her camera to create unique visual assets for her design projects while capturing the beauty of the world around her.

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14.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
429/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
15,235 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date August 18, 2013
64.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 12.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Istanbul, Turkey

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Conceptual Photography
Zahraa Al Hassani Photography
Zara Otaifah Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (14.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,612/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
15,235/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
4.3/5 points
429/500 Submission
Jury Score: 64.0/80
Resonance Score: 14.4/20
Total Award Score: 78.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The bazaar’s hum fades when you focus on this singular fruit. It’s a quiet rebellion against the uniformity of the crate. I’ve spent enough mornings waiting for the sun to reveal such hidden truths to know she didn’t rush this. She stood in the filtered, ambient light, listening to the stillness within the chaos. It’s a gentle reminder that we aren’t meant to blend in. I feel a strange, sudden peace looking at its imperfect skin.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
That singular tomato, flushed with the bruised, arterial crimson of a Caravaggio drapery, vibrates against the surrounding sea of muted, earthy ochres, creating a chromatic dissonance that’s utterly delicious. It’s a quiet, visceral rupture in the bazaar’s monotony; I’m genuinely moved by how the light catches its waxy, imperfect skin, transforming a humble vegetable into a glowing, defiant ember of individuality that refuses to dissolve into the dull, dusty palette of the collective.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Of the thousands of conceptual submissions I’ve reviewed, most rely on heavy-handed symbolism that ages poorly. This tomato, however, avoids the trap of being too literal. By isolating that singular, mottled skin against the blurred, uniform red of the pile, the shallow depth of field forces a confrontation with the viewer. It’s a quiet, honest rebellion. I’ll admit, it made me smile. In thirty years, this simplicity will still feel sharper than any complex, over-edited digital construct.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The shallow depth of field here doesn't just isolate; it exiles. By blurring the surrounding harvest into a formless, verdant void, Al Hassani forces us to confront the singular tomato’s burden of difference. It’s a lonely, visceral weight. I’ve stared at this crimson anomaly until my eyes ached, feeling the cold indifference of the bazaar’s shadows. It isn't a celebration of individuality, but a haunting reminder that to be distinct is to be utterly, terrifyingly alone.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the tomato, a sudden stillness settles in the chest. The shallow depth of field forces a visceral, singular focus, mimicking the isolation of being the only one who sees things differently. It’s a quiet ache. When I return to this, I feel that familiar, sharp prick of lonelinessβ€”the kind that hits when you’re surrounded by a crowd yet remain entirely unseen. It’s a beautiful, heavy reminder of our own fragile, necessary defiance.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
A tomato in a bazaar. It’s a charming enough observation, but one wonders if the photographer simply happened upon it while buying lunch. There’s no grit here, no shivering in the pre-dawn damp to catch a fleeting truth. It’s technically competent, sure, but it feels like a lucky find rather than a hard-won prize. I’ve spent weeks waiting for a single frame; this feels like a snapshot. It’s pretty, but it didn’t cost enough.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Yuki Sato

The Quiet Grace of Being

There is a gentle courage in simply existing as one is. We often feel the pull to mirror the world around us, to smooth our edges until we blend into the collective hum of the crowd. Yet, nature teaches us that beauty is rarely found in uniformity.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Geometry of Being

We are taught from the first breath to seek the comfort of the cluster, to find our worth in the seamless repetition of the crowd. Like pebbles smoothed by the same tide, we strive for a uniform polish, fearing that a jagged edge or an unexpected hue might mark us as broken.

Read the reflection →

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