River Reflection by Tisha Clinkenbeard

Captured in early February, this photograph showcases the serene, mirror-like reflections of the Lower Mountain Fork river in Beavers Bend State Park. Following a major spring flood that reshaped the landscape, the photographer was drawn to the newly exposed rock formations, which revealed hidden geological beauty against the muted tones of winter. The image is award-worthy for its masterful composition, which balances the stillness of the water with the rugged, textured cliffs, effectively documenting the resilience and evolving character of the natural environment after a significant seasonal disturbance.

River Reflection by Tisha Clinkenbeard
Copyright Β© Tisha Clinkenbeard
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Tisha Clinkenbeard

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Powderly, Texas, Tisha Clinkenbeard is a dedicated photographer whose work explores the beauty found in the everyday world. Her artistic journey, which began long before the advent of modern digital technology, has led to exhibitions at prestigious venues such as The Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs and Portland’s Black Box Gallery. Through her blog, Found Round & About, she shares her unique perspective on the landscapes and natural wonders she encounters while wandering the earth, consistently capturing the quiet stories hidden in nature.

Profile View Full Profile
12.5/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
243/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
9,365 views | 3 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date January 27, 2017
68.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Broken Bow, Oklahoma, The United States

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Nature Photography
Tisha Clinkenbeard Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.3/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
4.9/5 points
972/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
9,365/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
2.4/5 points
243/500 Submission
Jury Score: 68.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.3/20
Total Award Score: 80.3/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The water is a perfect matte finish, a glass pane waiting for a lens flare that never arrives. It’s a quiet, locked-off shot. The river’s stillness against those jagged, post-flood rocks creates a tension I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s the frame the editor keeps because it’s where the story finally breathes. I’d have held this shutter for an hour just to watch the light settle. It’s a beautiful, frozen cut.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
f/11 at 24mm, 1/60s, ISO 100. A calculated choice for maximum depth of field across those limestone strata. The aperture choice is correct; it keeps the foreground grit and the distant tree line in sharp focus. I’ve spent hours staring at these riverbeds, and the clarity here is cold, precise, and honest. It’s a relief to see a landscape photographer actually use a tripod instead of relying on high-ISO noise reduction. It works.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The river’s mirror doesn't merely reflect; it interrogates the silence left by the flood. Clinkenbeard’s shadows here aren't empty voids, but heavy, geological secrets pressed against the water’s edge. I’ve stared at these jagged cliffs until my eyes ached, feeling the cold, indifferent weight of time itself. It’s a haunting, brutal stillness. Most photographers fear this kind of darkness, but she lets it breathe. It’s where the landscape finally stops pretending and starts to think.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of Still Water

Water does not forget. It holds the shape of the sky, the jagged edge of the stone, the slow passage of the clouds. We walk past the river and assume it is merely moving, a traveler passing through.

Read the reflection →
By Tom Bretherton

The Mirror of the Flood

I remember sitting by a creek in the Blue Mountains with an old geologist named Elias. He spent the afternoon tracing the jagged scars left on the riverbank by a winter storm.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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

3 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 Architecture of EnclosureLooking towards the Light, by Saniar Rahman Rahul - Wildlife Photography, Nature Photography, Photo of the Day, Photography Awards, Online Photography CoursesLilac Breasted Roller, by Claudio Bacinello - Wildlife Photography, Nature Photography, Photo of the Day, Lilac-Breasted Roller, Claudio BacinelloThe Quiet After the Storm