Fall in Love by Zahraa Al Hassani

Captured during the vibrant peak of autumn, this photograph celebrates the ephemeral beauty of the season. Zahraa Al Hassani utilized a 70mm focal length to isolate the rich, warm tones of the landscape, carefully balancing the exposure to highlight the intricate textures of the foliage. The image serves as a poetic tribute to October, reflecting the photographer's deep appreciation for nature's shifting palette. Its award-worthy quality lies in the masterful composition and the evocative, painterly light that transforms a simple seasonal scene into a compelling visual narrative of fall's fleeting splendor.

Fall in Love by Zahraa Al Hassani
Nikon D7100 | Exposure 1/640sec @ f/4 | ISO 200 | Focal Length 70mm
Copyright Β© Zahraa Al Hassani
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Zahraa Al Hassani

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Baghdad, Iraq, Zahraa Al Hassani is a dedicated photographer and senior graphic designer at Zain Telecommunications. A graduate of the University of Technology Baghdad, she brings a refined design perspective to her photographic work, having transitioned from early experimentation with Sony equipment to her current Nikon system. Her practice is deeply influenced by her professional background in marketing and communications, allowing her to craft images that are both technically precise and aesthetically elegant. Balancing her career with family life, she continues to pursue photography as a means of exploring and documenting the world around her.

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11.3/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
99/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
13,560 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date December 19, 2015
67.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Beit Eddine, Lebanon

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Nature Photography
Zahraa Al Hassani Photography
Zara Otaifah Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.0/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,397/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
13,560/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.0/5 points
99/500 Submission
Jury Score: 67.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.0/20
Total Award Score: 78.0/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Autumn in Beit Eddine isn't merely a seasonal shift; it’s a slow surrender to the inevitable. Al Hassani’s frame captures the foliage, yet I’m haunted by the pockets of gloom between the leaves. It’s here that the light fails, and frankly, it makes me ache for the coming winter. We often mistake warmth for comfort, but these shadows suggest a deeper, colder truth. The darkness doesn't just frame the gold; it consumes it. That’s where the thinking happens.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You’ve captured the light in Beit Eddine with a real sense of reverence. I’m looking at those amber leaves, and it’s quietβ€”the kind of quiet you only find when you stop moving and just breathe. You didn’t just document a season; you waited until the air felt heavy with that specific October melancholy. It’s honest work. I felt a sudden, sharp ache for home looking at it. You were really there, weren't you?
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/4, the 70mm focal plane renders the foliage with a crispness that pushes the D7100’s sensor to its limit. The bokeh, a function of that wide aperture, softens the background into a buttery, chromatic wash, isolating the veins of the leaves. I’m genuinely moved by how the light catches those serrated edges; it’s a rare, tactile clarity. It doesn't just capture autumn; it resolves the very physics of the season’s decay with startling precision.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
In Beit Eddine, the trees don’t just change color; they confess. We look at these amber leaves and we hear the quiet sigh of a season letting go. Zahraa didn’t just point her lens at the foliage; she listened to the wind’s rhythm until the light felt like a shared secret. It’s a portrait of a landscape mid-breath. I find myself aching for that crisp, golden air. It’s a photograph that asks to be returned to.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/640sec at f/4, 70mm, ISO 200. A tight aperture choice for a landscape, but it isolates the foliage effectively. The shutter speed is overkill; it’s wasted potential. I’ve seen enough motion blur in autumn shots to appreciate the sharpness here, though. It’s technically sound, even if the depth of field feels a bit safe. It doesn't push the D7100, but it doesn't fail it either. It’s a clean, precise execution. I actually like the restraint.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Currency of Gold

I remember walking through a small wood in Vermont with my grandfather when I was ten. He stopped by a maple tree, its leaves turned to a brittle, burning orange, and told me that autumn is the only time the earth spends its savings all at once. He didn't mean money, of course.

Read the reflection →
By Yuki Sato

The Wisdom of Letting Go

There is a quiet courage in the way the trees surrender their gold. We often view the turning of the season as a loss, a slow fading of the warmth we have grown accustomed to. But if we watch closely, we see that it is actually a profound act of trust.

Read the reflection →

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