The Blessing Trick by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Captured in the rural outskirts of Bodh Gaya, India, this evocative image documents a spontaneous encounter with local children near the Dungeswari caves. While exploring sites associated with the life of Buddha, the photographer discovered a trio of youngsters whose playful, clever performanceβ€”offering blessings in exchange for small donationsβ€”provided a moment of genuine human connection. The photograph is award-worthy for its candid portrayal of childhood innocence and cultural interaction, masterfully balancing the atmospheric setting of the cave dwellings with the spirited, tricky charm of the subjects. It serves as a poignant reminder of the unexpected stories found along the traveler's path.

The Blessing Trick by Ryszard Wierzbicki
Nikon D5000 with Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
Exposure 1/250sec @ f/5 | ISO 500 | Focal Length 145mm
Copyright Β© Ryszard Wierzbicki
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryszard Wierzbicki

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1963 and a graduate of the University of GdaΕ„sk, Ryszard Wierzbicki transitioned from a diverse career in social sciences and marketing to become a dedicated traveler and photographer. After relocating to the United Kingdom in 2006, he channeled his passion for exploration into documenting the cultures of South-East Asia, often balancing his professional life as a marketing advisor with humanitarian work for orphanages. As the founder of the Instant Travelling and World Around forums, Wierzbicki actively fosters a community for photographers and travelers, capturing the world through a lens shaped by his adventurous spirit and commitment to global storytelling.

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14.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
384/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
13,173 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date April 5, 2014
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Ryszard Wierzbicki Photography
Travel Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (13.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,572/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
13,173/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
3.8/5 points
384/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 13.9/20
Total Award Score: 82.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
The D5000 is a modest tool, yet Wierzbicki has squeezed a surprising amount of life from it. One suspects he didn't just stumble upon these children; he likely spent hours enduring the dust of Bihar to earn their trust. It’s a rare, unforced moment. I’ve spent enough time in similar heat to know that candid charm is rarely a giftβ€”it’s a tax paid in patience. He clearly stayed long enough for the performance to end.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At 145mm and f/5, the Nikon’s glass struggles against the harsh Bihar light, yet it resolves the children’s expressions with surprising clarity. The focal plane is razor-thin, isolating their playful energy from the cave’s dusty backdrop. I’m genuinely moved by how the lens handles the diffraction across their skin; it’s a tactile, human warmth that digital sensors rarely capture so honestly. It’s not technically perfect, but it’s a beautiful, fleeting intersection of optics and spirit.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/250sec at f/5, 145mm, ISO 500. The Nikon D5000 struggles here. At 145mm, f/5 is too thin for three subjects in motion; the focus plane is razor-sharp on one child while the others drift into blur. It’s technically sloppy. I’ve spent years staring at these sensors, and the noise at ISO 500 is distracting. It doesn’t capture the moment; it just records a missed opportunity. I’m honestly frustrated by the lack of depth.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most travel photography is just visual tourism, but this captures a transactional intimacy that lingers. Of the thousands of portraits I’ve reviewed, few nail the tension between playfulness and poverty so sharply. The children’s knowing grins, framed against the harsh, dusty backdrop of the caves, make me ache for their future. It’s the audacity in their eyes that ensures this won’t be forgotten in thirty years. It’s a rare, honest look at survival.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Clara Menezes

The Currency of Childhood

We are taught early that the world is a ledger, a place where every gesture must be weighed and every kindness carries a price. We learn to trade our smiles for security, our innocence for a seat at the table of the grown.

Read the reflection →
By Isabelle Park

The Currency of a Smile

I was walking home from the market this morning when a neighborhood kid stopped me. He had his hands cupped together, pretending to hold a secret, and he told me if I guessed what was inside, he would give me a 'lucky' stone.

Read the reflection →

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5 replies
  1. JosΓ© J. Rivera-NegrΓ³n says:

    this photo really got to me> i wish one day I’ll visit India to see all these beautiful kids

    Reply

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