Looking for Food by Tanmoy Saha

Captured near the serene surroundings of the Golden Temple in Bandarban, this photograph depicts an Oriental garden lizard in its natural habitat. The photographer patiently observed the creature as it navigated the terrain, intently searching for food. The image is a testament to the beauty of wildlife in Bangladesh, showcasing the lizard’s intricate textures and alert posture against a soft, natural backdrop. This award-winning shot stands out for its sharp focus and the photographer's ability to capture a fleeting, intimate moment of animal behavior, highlighting the delicate balance between the subject and its environment.

Looking for Food by Tanmoy Saha
Copyright Β© Tanmoy Saha
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Tanmoy Saha

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tanmoy Saha Turja is a dedicated photographer whose journey began in 2007. An Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering graduate, he balances his professional work in the audio-visual sector with a deep passion for portrait, landscape, and wildlife photography. His technical foundation was built through courses at the Dhaka University Photography Society and Pathshala, leading to his work being featured in prestigious exhibitions at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh.

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13.4/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
308/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
13,380 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date May 30, 2015
66.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 16.0
Style 13.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Bandarban, Bangladesh

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Tanmoy Saha Photography
Wildlife Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (13.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,639/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
13,380/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
3.1/5 points
308/500 Submission
Jury Score: 66.0/80
Resonance Score: 13.1/20
Total Award Score: 79.1/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the lizard, a sudden stillness takes hold. It’s the tension in that arched spine, a hunger so precise it makes my own pulse stutter. I’ve returned to this frame three times today, and each time, the creature’s alert, unblinking gaze feels like a silent accusation. It doesn’t just exist in Bandarban; it demands I acknowledge the raw, desperate geometry of survival. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for it to strike.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The lizard holds its breath, and so must we. Tanmoy waited in the humid stillness near the Golden Temple, listening to the light as it filtered through the dense foliage. It’s a quiet, fragile geometry. I’ve spent enough hours in the brush to know the ache in his knees, the absolute stillness required to earn this gaze. When I look at those scales, I feel a sudden, sharp longing for that same silent, wild patience.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The lizard freezes. It’s a perfect tracking shot interrupted by a sudden, violent stillness. The focus is razor-sharp, locking onto that prehistoric eye with a tension I’ve rarely seen in the wild. It’s waiting for the cut, for the movement that never comes. I find myself holding my breath, terrified I’ll break the spell. Saha caught the exact frame an editor would kill for. It’s not just wildlife; it’s a scene waiting for a script.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
f/5.6 at 300mm, 1/500s, ISO 400. A tight focal length isolates the subject, but f/5.6 is a compromise. It’s sharp enough on the eye, yet the background remains distracting. I’ve seen better separation at f/4. The shutter speed barely freezes the lizard’s movement; there’s slight motion blur in the claws. It’s technically adequate, though I’d have preferred a faster shutter. It’s frustratingly close to perfection, yet it doesn't quite commit to the isolation required.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The lizard’s scales catch the light, but it’s the encroaching blur of the background that haunts me. It’s not just a soft focus; it’s a void, a refusal to let the creature exist in a vacuum. I find myself shivering at the indifference of that darkness. Heidegger argued that we are thrown into the world, and here, the creature’s hunger is a lonely, desperate struggle against an abyss that doesn’t care if it survives.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Priya Kapoor

The Roughness of Being

The smell of damp earth after a long, humid afternoon is a heavy, velvet thing. It clings to the back of the throat, tasting of minerals and ancient, slow-moving time.

Read the reflection →
By Isabelle Park

The Quiet Hunger

I spent an hour this morning watching a spider weave a web between the porch chairs. It was so methodical, so entirely focused on the task at hand, that I felt a strange sense of envy.

Read the reflection →

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