Colorful Stained Glass by Zahraa Al Hassani

Captured within the historic walls of Mussa Castle in Lebanon, this photograph highlights the intricate beauty of a stained-glass window bay. The photographer skillfully utilized a wide-angle lens to frame the vibrant patterns, capturing how light dances through the glass to illuminate the architectural craftsmanship of Moussa Abdel Karim Al-Maamari. This image is award-worthy for its masterful balance of color and geometry, transforming a static historical feature into a dynamic visual experience. The composition draws the viewer into the heart of the castle, celebrating both the visionary labor of the builder and the photographer’s keen eye for light and detail.

Colorful Stained Glass by Zahraa Al Hassani
Nikon D7100 with Sigma 10-20mm
Exposure 1/400sec @ f/4 | ISO 200 | Focal Length 10mm
Copyright Β© Zahraa Al Hassani
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Zahraa Al Hassani

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Baghdad, Iraq, Zahraa Hashim Salih Al Hasani is a dedicated photographer and senior graphic designer at Zain Telecommunications. A graduate of the University of Technology Baghdad, she leverages her extensive background in visual design to refine her unique photographic perspective. Her work is driven by a commitment to purist photography and a desire to capture elegant imagery despite the limited resources often found in her environment. Balancing her professional career with family life, she continues to evolve her craft, blending technical precision with a deep appreciation for artistic storytelling.

Profile View Full Profile
13.9/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
374/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
14,651 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date February 16, 2015
67.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Beit ed-Dine, Lebanon

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Color Photography
Zahraa Al Hassani Photography
Zara Otaifah Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (13.7/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,166/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
14,651/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
3.7/5 points
374/500 Submission
Jury Score: 67.0/80
Resonance Score: 13.7/20
Total Award Score: 80.7/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most architectural shots of stained glass are just pretty patterns, but this one holds up because of the geometry. By using the 10mm focal length to pull the viewer into the archway, Zahraa forces us to confront the weight of the stone against the fragility of the light. It’s a rare balance. I’ve seen thousands of these, and honestly, the way the shadows anchor the color makes me want to stand right there in that room.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
A wide-angle lens in a confined space is a dangerous game, yet here the geometry holds firm. One wonders how many hours Zahraa spent waiting for the sun to hit those panes just right. It’s a clean, disciplined frame. I’ve spent enough afternoons shivering in drafty stone corridors to appreciate the patience required to catch that light without the usual tourist clutter. It’s a quiet, earned moment. I’d have liked to stay a while.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The cobalt of these panes, reminiscent of a Vermeer window, bleeds into the stone with such aching intensity that one’s breath catches in the throat. It’s a chromatic collision where the sun’s heat, filtered through those saturated reds, doesn’t merely illuminate the architecture; it dissolves it. I’ve rarely seen light so tactile, turning the cold masonry into a soft, Morandi-esque study of shifting temperatures that makes my own heart swell with a quiet, desperate joy.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/400sec at f/4, 10mm. Wide-angle distortion is the enemy of architecture, yet here it’s managed with surprising discipline. The Sigma 10-20mm usually turns edges into mush, but the D7100 sensor holds the geometry together. I’d have stopped down to f/8 for better corner sharpness, but the shutter speed suggests a handheld grab. It’s technically competent. Honestly, the way those light rays cut through the glass makes me miss the quiet of those old stone halls.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Architecture of Light

I remember sitting in a small chapel in rural France, watching the midday sun force its way through centuries-old glass. An elderly woman sat two rows ahead of me, her hands folded, her face periodically washed in deep blues and burning ambers as the clouds shifted outside.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Architecture of Silence

We often mistake light for a mere utility, a way to banish the dark so that we might see the edges of our own lives. But light is a traveler, and it is never quite the same when it arrives as when it began.

Read the reflection →

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