Painted Face by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Captured in March 2012 near the iconic U Bein Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar, this striking portrait highlights a young girl adorned with traditional face paint. The photographer encountered her amidst a group of children interacting with travelers near the world’s longest teak bridge. By utilizing a long focal length, the photographer successfully isolated the subject from the bustling environment, creating an intimate and poignant connection. The image is award-worthy for its authentic cultural documentation and the delicate balance between the subject's expressive gaze and the soft, natural light that accentuates the intricate patterns on her face.

Painted Face by Ryszard WierzbickiPainted Face, by Ryszard Wierzbicki
Nikon D5000 with 55-200mm | Exposure 1/350sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Focal Length 180mm
Copyright Β© Ryszard Wierzbicki
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryszard Wierzbicki

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Poland in 1963, Ryszard Wierzbicki is a dedicated traveler and photographer currently based in Swindon, United Kingdom. After a diverse career in social sciences and marketing, he transitioned into a life of exploration, focusing his lens on the cultures of South-East Asia. His work is deeply informed by his background in child care and his commitment to charitable organizations supporting orphans in Thailand and Myanmar. Through his photography and travel forums, he seeks to document the human experience with empathy and a keen eye for authentic storytelling.

Profile View Full Profile
13.0/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
273/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
18,170 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date March 16, 2013
70.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Amarapura, Myanmar

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Portrait Photography
Ryszard Wierzbicki Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (13.0/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
2,015/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
18,170/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
6/100 Review
Submissions
2.7/5 points
273/500 Submission
Jury Score: 70.0/80
Resonance Score: 13.0/20
Total Award Score: 83.0/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most portraits from the U Bein Bridge are cluttered tourist traps, but Wierzbicki’s choice to compress the background with a 180mm lens isolates the girl’s gaze from the chaos. It’s the precise application of thanaka paste that anchors the frame; it doesn't just decorate, it defines her. I’ll admit, her eyes haunt me. In thirty years, this won't be another travel snapshot. It’s a rare, quiet document of a vanishing childhood in a changing Myanmar.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The 180mm compression flattens the plane, forcing the subject against a blurred, non-descript void. It’s a calculated isolation. The gaze doesn't wander; it’s trapped by the rigid geometry of the face paint. I’m genuinely unsettled by how the vertical alignment of the eyes anchors the entire frame. The spatial tension is precise, though the background bokeh feels a bit thin. It’s a disciplined study of mass. The frame holds, barely, but it holds.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The light here doesn’t demand; it hums. Ryszard stood back, letting the 180mm lens breathe, waiting for the girl to settle into the stillness of the teak bridge. It’s that soft, diffused glow of a Burmese afternoon that catches the patterns on her skin. I’ve felt that same quiet hum in the air before. It’s a sacred patience. Looking at her gaze, I feel a sudden, sharp ache for the simplicity of that moment.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The girl stares. The background dissolves into a soft, blurred amber. It’s a quiet isolation. I’ve spent minutes looking at the space behind her shoulder. It isn’t just air. It’s a deliberate absence that lets her gaze breathe. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It holds the weight of the bridge she stands near. I feel a sudden, sharp ache for the stillness she carries. It’s rare. It’s enough.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/350sec at f/5.6, 180mm, ISO 400. It’s a calculated compression. By pushing to 180mm, Wierzbicki effectively neutralized the chaotic background of the U Bein Bridge. The f/5.6 aperture provides just enough depth to keep the face paint sharp while softening the bokeh. It’s technically sound, though I’d have preferred a faster shutter to ensure absolute micro-contrast on the skin. It’s rare that I don’t find a flaw here. The optics actually did the work.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Clara Menezes

The Geography of Skin

We are all born as blank slates, yet time is a patient cartographer. It draws lines across our brows and maps our histories onto our skin, turning the surface of the self into a landscape of memory.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Architecture of the Mask

In the ancient traditions of the theater, the mask was never meant to hide the wearer. Instead, it was a tool of amplification, a way to project a singular, distilled truth across the vast, echoing space of an amphitheater.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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

6 replies
  1. Tere Troya says:

    Congrats Ryszard Wierzbicki !! This photo is really amazing!
    Really shows the joy of the beauty of this face of childhood
    When you changed the ironed suit by the cargo trousers, you made an excellent choise!

    Reply

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 *

New York by Patricia SaraivaNew York, by Patricia Saraiva - Aerial Photography, Award Winning Photography, Photo of the Day, New York City, Photography AwardsLeading Edge by Laria Saunders - Nature Photography, Photo of the Day, Photography Awards, Art Photography, Laria SaundersStanding Tall Alone