Hide and Seek by Tareq Uddin Ahmed

In this captivating wildlife portrait, the photographer captures a bird engaged in a playful game of hide and seek. By patiently observing the subject's behavior and mirroring its movements, the photographer successfully bridged the gap between observer and subject to secure this intimate frame. The image is a testament to the photographer's persistence and technical precision, utilizing a long focal length to isolate the bird amidst its natural environment. This photograph is award-worthy for its ability to transform a fleeting, whimsical moment into a sharp, evocative narrative that highlights the beauty of avian behavior in the wild.

Hide and Seek by Tareq Uddin Ahmed
Canon EOS 70D with EF 300mm f/4L IS + 1.4x III | Exposure 1/1250sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 250 | Focal Length 420mm
Copyright Β© Tareq Uddin Ahmed
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Tareq Uddin Ahmed

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Bangladesh in 1980, Tareq Uddin Ahmed is a Chittagong-based photographer who has gained significant recognition since beginning his practice in 2011. As a dedicated bird photographer and a founder member of the Chittagong Bird Club, he frequently travels across the country to document avian life, while also maintaining a local reputation for his skilled macro photography of flowers and butterflies. With his work already featured in local publications, Ahmed is now focused on expanding his photographic reach to a global audience.

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12.9/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
264/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
17,460 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date January 25, 2014
65.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 17.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Muhuri Dam, Chittagong, Bangladesh

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Tareq Uddin Ahmed Photography
Wildlife Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,560/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
17,460/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
6/100 Review
Submissions
2.6/5 points
264/500 Submission
Jury Score: 65.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.9/20
Total Award Score: 77.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At 420mm, the diffraction limit at f/5.6 is barely encroaching on the bird’s plumage, allowing the sensor to resolve microscopic feather textures that our eyes simply miss. The focal plane is razor-thin, isolating the subject with a clinical precision that’s frankly breathtaking. I’m genuinely moved by how the glass renders the bokeh; it’s a soft, creamy dissolution of the Muhuri Dam’s background that makes the avian subject feel almost tactile. It’s an optical triumph of light.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
One suspects the bird didn't simply pose for the camera. To capture that precise, inquisitive tilt at 420mm requires a level of stillness that makes my own joints ache just looking at it. It’s clear Ahmed didn't just stumble upon this; he sat in the reeds until he became part of the furniture. I’ve spent enough mornings shivering in damp hides to respect that kind of commitment. It’s a rare, quiet victory of patience over luck.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the bird, something in the chest tightens. It’s that sudden, held-breath stillness of a creature peering from the reeds. I feel a prickle of vulnerability, a mirror of the bird’s own guarded gaze. When I return to this a year later, the Muhuri Dam’s silence feels heavier. It’s not just a portrait; it’s a quiet intrusion. I’ve caught myself looking for that hidden eye in the shadows of my own room.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The bird isn't playing; it’s negotiating its existence against the encroaching reeds. We mistake this tension for whimsy, yet the shadow here doesn't hide the subjectβ€”it defines the boundary between being seen and being erased. I’ve stared at these dark, jagged stalks until my eyes ached, feeling the cold weight of the Muhuri Dam’s silence. It’s a brutal, necessary isolation. If you don't fear the darkness surrounding that beak, you’ve missed the point entirely.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The shutter snaps and the world stops breathing. It’s a tight, voyeuristic peek through the reeds, a frame that feels like a long lens tracking a character who doesn't know they're being watched. I love the tension here; it’s the exact moment before the cut, where the bird’s gaze locks onto the lens. It’s not just wildlife; it’s a standoff. The editor keeps this shot because it’s the only one that tells the whole story.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre plumage, reminiscent of a Morandi still life, dissolves into the muted, silty greys of the Muhuri Dam, creating a chromatic tension that’s utterly hypnotic. It’s the way the bird’s soft, earthen tones quarrel with that cold, watery lightβ€”I’ve found myself breathless, truly, by how the palette refuses to settle. One feels the damp, heavy air of Chittagong pressing against the lens, a symphony of desaturated pigments that feels like a quiet, lingering ache.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Art of Being Unseen

I spent three hours sitting in a reed bed near the river last Tuesday, waiting for a kingfisher that never showed. My legs had gone numb, and the damp was starting to seep through my coat, but there was a strange comfort in the stillness.

Read the reflection →
By Priya Kapoor

The Weight of a Whisper

There is a specific texture to silenceβ€”it feels like the fine, dry dust that settles on a windowsill after a long summer, or the way the air thins just before a storm breaks.

Read the reflection →

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