When the Leaves Start to Fall by Zahraa Al Hassani
Captured during a family journey to the northern villages of Lebanon, this photograph highlights the fleeting beauty of autumn. The photographer was drawn to a fence draped in a vibrant, orange-green tapestry of falling foliage, prompting an immediate stop to document the scene. By focusing on the interplay of color and the delicate texture of the leaves, the image captures a quiet, transient moment in nature. Its award-worthy quality lies in the photographer's ability to transform a spontaneous roadside discovery into a composed, evocative study of seasonal transition.
Exposure 1/160sec @ f/4.5 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 75mm
Akash Bhattacharya
The word Akash means "Sky" in English. He believes he is like a fictional character who plays a part in an intricate story commonly known as Life. To him, "Photography is like fishing. One goes out in the morning with no idea of what the trip will bring. Sometimes luck is on your side and all your crab pots are full of prime Lobsters. Other times you get nothing." [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="145"] Akash Bhattacharya[/caption] Camera Gear: Canon EOS 350D Current Location: Bangalore, India Blog: http://akashphotography.wordpress.com Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AkashPhotography Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!
Resonance Score Breakdown
Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.
Expert Photography Reviews · 3
The Wisdom of Letting Go
There is a quiet intelligence in the way a tree releases its hold. It does not cling to the past, nor does it fear the coming frost. It understands that to make room for the new, one must be willing to let the old drift away, returning to the earth that once nourished it.
Read the reflection →The Art of Letting Go
I spent this morning clearing out the hallway closet. It is one of those tasks I have been putting off for months, mostly because I hate deciding what to keep and what to toss. I found an old scarf I haven't worn in years and a stack of letters that felt heavy just to hold.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.
1/160sec at f/4.5, 75mm, ISO 100. It’s a shallow choice for a fence line. At 75mm, the depth of field is thin, yet the background remains distracting. I’d have stopped down to f/8 to sharpen the foliage texture. The shutter speed is safe, but the lack of separation between the leaves and the wire is a technical oversight. It’s frustrating. I see the intent, but the optics didn’t support the vision. Precision matters more than spontaneity.
Autumn’s decay isn’t a celebration; it’s a surrender. Al Hassani’s leaves cling to that wire fence like memories refusing to dissolve. I’m struck by how the shadows here don’t merely frame the orange; they consume it, pulling the vibrancy into a cold, existential void. It’s a quiet violence. Heidegger would argue we’re seeing the world’s finitude. I find it unsettling. It doesn’t invite us to look; it forces us to confront what we’ve already lost.
The frame breathes. It’s a tight, rhythmic cut of autumn, orange bleeding into green against the wire. I feel the sudden screech of the car pulling over; it’s that frantic, beautiful urgency of a director spotting the perfect B-roll. The 75mm focal length compresses the depth, holding the foliage in a static, golden suspension. It’s a quiet sequence, a transition caught mid-breath. I’d have stayed there for hours just watching the light shift.