Long-tailed Shrike by Masudur Rahman

Captured during a quiet morning at the Muhuri Dam in Chittagong, this image of a Long-tailed Shrike highlights the photographer's patience and keen eye for wildlife. While exploring the dam, the photographer spotted the bird basking in the morning sunshine, a moment he had long hoped to document. The resulting photograph is award-worthy for its sharp focus and the serene, natural behavior it captures, transforming a simple encounter into a compelling portrait of avian life. The composition emphasizes the bird's elegant posture against the soft, warm light of the morning, showcasing the beauty of the species in its natural habitat.

Long-tailed Shrike by Masudur Rahman
Nikkon D800E with AF 80-400mm | Exposure 1/640sec @ f/8 | ISO 560 | Focal Length 400mm
Copyright Β© Masudur Rahman
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Masudur Rahman

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1967, Masudur Rahman Mamoon is a dedicated wildlife photographer based in Chittagong, Bangladesh. After beginning his journey with portraiture in 1998, he shifted his focus to bird photography in 2007, eventually becoming an active member of the Chittagong Bird Club. A marketing graduate from Chittagong University, Mamoon views photography as a vital tool for creative expression and social change, frequently sharing his avian studies and insights through local newspaper columns.

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11.8/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
156/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
14,305 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date February 16, 2014
66.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 17.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Muhuri Dam, Chittagong, Bangladesh

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Masudur Rahman Photography
Wildlife Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,704/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
14,305/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
4/100 Review
Submissions
1.6/5 points
156/500 Submission
Jury Score: 66.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.6/20
Total Award Score: 77.6/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
A single branch. The shrike sits, a sharp ink stroke against the pale, washed-out sky. I’ve spent years looking for this kind of stillness. It doesn’t demand attention. It simply exists. The vast, blurred background isn’t just air; it’s a breath held. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a quiet ache in my chest. I find myself leaning in, afraid that even a whisper might disturb the morning light.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The Shrike perches, yet it doesn’t merely exist; it waits. Rahman’s light is too polite, too eager to reveal the plumage. I’m troubled by the lack of true, devouring black. Where is the abyss behind those feathers? Heidegger argued that truth happens in the clearing, but here, the light feels like a veil. I’d trade this clarity for a single, honest shadow. It’s a beautiful bird, but it’s hiding from the dark, and that’s a tragedy.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/640sec at f/8, ISO 560, 400mm. The D800E demands precision, and Rahman delivered. Stopping down to f/8 was the right call; it’s the only way to ensure the shrike’s plumage remains sharp across that focal plane. I’ve seen too many wildlife shots ruined by wide-open glass. The ISO 560 is a bit noisy, but it’s a necessary trade-off for the shutter speed. It’s technically sound. I actually found myself leaning in to check the eye focus. It holds.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The morning air at Muhuri Dam holds a stillness that demands silence. He stood there, waiting for the light to soften, listening to the reeds shift before the shrike finally settled. It’s a quiet communion. I find myself holding my breath, feeling the warmth of that early sun on my own skin. He didn't just capture a bird; he caught a fleeting, sacred grace. It’s the kind of patience that turns a simple portrait into prayer.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Weight of a Morning

I remember sitting on a rusted bench in a park in Kyoto, watching a sparrow navigate the space between two cherry trees. It didn't seem to care about the commuters rushing past or the heavy, grey clouds threatening rain.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Architecture of Stillness

To be perfectly still is not to be empty; it is to be a vessel waiting for the light to fill the corners. We spend our lives in a frantic choreography of movement, convinced that if we stop, the world will simply spin on without us.

Read the reflection →

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