A Work of Cheesecake by Bashar Alaeddin

Bashar Alaeddin approached this cheesecake composition with the deliberate eye of a Renaissance painter, utilizing natural sidelight to sculpt the dessert's textures. By incorporating a vibrant green backdrop, the photographer transformed a culinary subject into a modern art piece, balancing the rich, dripping date sauce against complementary color palettes. The image was crafted with the intention of serving as a sophisticated print for kitchens or boutique sweet-shops. This work is award-worthy for its masterful control of light and its ability to elevate food photography into a refined, painterly aesthetic that feels both timeless and contemporary.

A Work of Cheesecake by Bashar Alaeddin
Copyright Β© Bashar Alaeddin
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Bashar Alaeddin

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Kuwait City and raised between Jordan and Lebanon, Bashar Alaeddin brings over nine years of professional experience to his craft. As the founder of a photography and video studio in Amman, he balances a diverse commercial career in food, interior, and portrait photography with a deep passion for capturing the landscapes and night skies of the Middle East. His unique perspective is further informed by his background as an amateur astronomer, allowing him to blend technical precision with a profound appreciation for the natural beauty of Arabian environments.

Profile View Full Profile
11.9/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
160/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
11,724 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 4, 2016
65.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 17.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Amman, Jordan

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Bashar Alaeddin Photography
Food Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.6/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,140/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
11,724/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.6/5 points
160/500 Submission
Jury Score: 65.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.6/20
Total Award Score: 76.6/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
There’s a stillness here that reminds me of waiting for the sun to crest a desert ridge. Bashar didn’t rush this. He waited for the light to graze that date sauce, turning syrup into liquid amber. It’s a quiet, sacred geometry. I find myself wanting to reach out, not to eat, but to feel the cool, heavy silence of that green backdrop. It’s rare to find such reverence for a simple, fleeting moment of sweetness.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
f/2.8 at 100mm. A razor-thin plane of focus that isolates the date sauce’s viscosity from the background’s aggressive green. It’s a calculated gamble on depth of field. The shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the drip, yet the bokeh remains controlled. I’ve seen enough food shots to know this isn't just luck. It’s clinical precision. Honestly, the way the light catches that syrup makes me hungry. A rare instance where the math actually works.
Henrik Johansson Architecture, Built Space & the Conversation Between Structure and Light Expert Review
It’s a curious exercise, treating a dessert like a structural volume. The date sauce acts as a viscous datum, defining the threshold between the cake’s crumb and the vibrant green void behind it. While the sidelight sculpts the mass with precision, I find myself craving the context of the room. Where does this object sit? I’d love to see the fenestration that allowed such light to fall. It’s technically sharp, yet strangely placeless.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the cheesecake, a sudden, sharp hunger pulls at the gut. The vibrant green backdrop creates an almost jarring activation, forcing the pulse to quicken against the stillness of the plate. I’ve found myself craving that sticky, dark date sauce long after closing the tab. It’s a sensory trap; the way the light clings to the textures makes me feel like I’m tasting the sweetness before I’ve even reached for a fork.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
It’s a polished bit of work, certainly. The sidelight catches the date syrup with a precision that suggests the photographer didn't just stumble upon it. I’ve spent enough hours shivering on a ridge to appreciate when someone actually bothers to control their light. It’s a tidy, deliberate composition. I’ll admit, the vibrant green backdrop almost makes me hungry, which is a rare feat for a photograph that feels this calculated. It’s earned, I suppose.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Tom Bretherton

The Sweetness of Patience

I remember sitting in a small kitchen in Amman, watching my grandmother prepare a dessert that required three days of waiting. She didn't rush the cooling or the setting. She told me that the best things in life are not just made; they are allowed to happen.

Read the reflection →
By Amelia Cross

The Weight of the Sweet

There is a specific silence that settles in a kitchen after the guests have finally gone. It is not a peaceful quiet, but a heavy, lingering oneβ€”the kind that clings to the crumbs left on a plate and the smear of sauce against the porcelain.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.

5 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Grit of StillnessAre You Clicking Me?, by Sudeep Mehta - Photojournalism, Travel Photography, Documentary Photography, Photography Awards, Light & Composition UniversityThe Little Crying Kid, by Sudeep Mehta - Photojournalism, Candid Photography, Award Winning Photography, Documentary Photography, Light & Composition UniversityThe Weight of a Hand