Snowing in Amman by Bashar Alaeddin

When a rare and heavy snowstorm blanketed Amman in January 2013, Bashar Alaeddin seized the opportunity to document the city’s transformation. Venturing out as the storm subsided, he focused on a prominent roundabout sculpture—a symbolic book depicting figures climbing toward knowledge. By capturing the scene through a car window while light snow continued to fall, he framed a fleeting, candid moment of local joy. The image is award-worthy for its ability to turn a civic landmark into a narrative of human connection, masterfully balancing the stark, wintry atmosphere with the subtle, spirited movement of a figure waving from the sculpture.

Snowing in Amman by Bashar Alaeddin
Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Exposure 1/500sec @ f/8 | ISO 125 | Focal Length 24mm
Copyright © Bashar Alaeddin
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Bashar Alaeddin

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Kuwait City and having spent his formative years between Jordan and Lebanon, Bashar Alaeddin brings a diverse cultural perspective to his work. With over nine years of experience, he transitioned from a hobbyist to the founder of a professional photography and video studio in Amman. His practice is defined by a balance between commercial projects—ranging from food to portraiture—and his deep passion for capturing the landscapes and night skies of the Middle East. As an amateur astronomer, he frequently integrates his fascination with the cosmos into his evocative photography.

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12.5/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
216/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
14,335 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date September 26, 2014
65.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 17.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
7th Circle, Amman, Jordan

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Bashar Alaeddin Photography
Nature Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.2/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,632/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
14,335/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.2/5 points
216/500 Submission
Jury Score: 65.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.2/20
Total Award Score: 77.2/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/500sec at f/8, ISO 125, 24mm. The shutter speed is a calculated choice; it freezes the flakes without turning them into static dust. Shooting through glass at f/8 keeps the sculpture sharp while the foreground blur remains controlled. It’s a clean, disciplined execution. I’ve seen enough sloppy street work, but this actually holds up under scrutiny. It’s cold, precise, and technically sound. I’m genuinely impressed by the restraint shown here. It’s a rare, functional success.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The frame catches a breath. It’s that rare, suspended second before the film cuts to black. Through the glass, the 7th Circle loses its concrete weight, replaced by a soft, cinematic blur. That figure waving from the sculpture? It’s pure kinetic energy trapped in ice. I’ve watched this loop a dozen times; it’s the shot the editor keeps because it’s the only one that feels alive. It’s a beautiful, fleeting rhythm I’d kill to have filmed.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/8, the 24mm focal plane renders the sculpture with clinical sharpness, yet it’s the glass of the car window that fascinates me. Those micro-droplets of melting snow act as tiny, imperfect lenses, refracting the city’s light into soft, chaotic bokeh. It’s a beautiful optical accident. I’m genuinely moved by how the diffraction of light across that cold surface softens the harsh geometry of the 7th Circle. It’s a rare, fleeting intersection of physics and human joy.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most urban photography is forgettable, but this shot sticks. Of the thousands I’ve reviewed, few capture a city’s soul so precisely. By shooting through glass, Alaeddin turns a cold, rare storm into a warm, human moment. That tiny figure waving from the sculpture isn't just a detail; it's the reason I’ll remember this in thirty years. It makes me smile every time I look at it. It’s a fleeting, perfect slice of Amman’s history.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the sculpture, a sudden stillness settles in the chest. It’s the cold, muffled silence of a city caught off guard. I feel that familiar, sharp ache of nostalgia for a place I’ve never been. When I return to this frame, the waving figure isn't just a detail; it’s a heartbeat in the frost. It’s the fleeting, human defiance against the white void that makes me want to hold my breath.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Shooting through a car window is usually the refuge of the lazy, yet here, it’s a tactical necessity. Amman in snow is a rare beast, and Alaeddin clearly didn't wait for the comfort of a tripod. I’ve spent enough hours shivering in drifts to appreciate the instinct to capture that waving figure before the moment dissolved. It’s a fleeting, honest scrap of life. He didn't just find this; he caught it. I’m impressed.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Rashid Noor

The Silence of White

Why does the world feel most honest when it is covered in a shroud of white? Perhaps it is because the snow acts as a great eraser, muting the sharp edges of our daily routines and the relentless noise of our ambitions.

Read the reflection →
By Tom Bretherton

The City Under Wraps

I remember the morning the power went out in my childhood home. It wasn't the darkness that struck me, but the silence. The usual hum of the refrigerator, the distant drone of traffic, the ticking clock—everything had been swallowed by a thick, heavy blanket of snow.

Read the reflection →

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