Dual Take off to 90 by Somnath Chakraborty

During a leisurely evening bike ride through Kolkata’s iconic Gorer Math, the photographer encountered three young men performing daring bicycle stunts. Captivated by their energy and skill, he quickly maneuvered his own bike alongside them, utilizing a high-speed burst of 7 frames per second to capture the action. The resulting image freezes a moment of pure, adrenaline-fueled motion, showcasing the effortless coordination of the subjects. By choosing a wide-angle perspective, the photographer immerses the viewer in the heart of the performance, turning a spontaneous encounter into a dynamic celebration of movement and youthful spirit that defines the essence of motion photography.

Dual Take off to 90 by Somnath Chakraborty
Sigma 10-20mm
Copyright Β© Somnath Chakraborty
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Somnath Chakraborty

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Batanagar, Kolkata, Somnath Chakraborty balances a professional career as a Network Engineer with a deep-seated passion for photography. A dedicated enthusiast who strives for daily creative output, he views his photographic journey as a continuous process of learning and sharing experiences within the global community. His work reflects a commitment to capturing the spontaneous beauty of everyday life, driven by a personal philosophy that finds it impossible to end a day without documenting the world through his lens.

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11.0/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
112/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
10,157 views | 15 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date February 16, 2018
60.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 15.0
Style 11.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Gorer Math, Kolkata, India

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Motion Photography
Somnath Chakraborty Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (10.6/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
4.1/5 points
816/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
10,157/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.4/5 points
8/100 Review
Submissions
1.1/5 points
112/500 Submission
Jury Score: 60.0/80
Resonance Score: 10.6/20
Total Award Score: 70.6/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Henrik Johansson Architecture, Built Space & the Conversation Between Structure and Light Expert Review
Gorer Math isn't just a field; it’s a vast, open datum against which these cyclists carve their own ephemeral architecture. Using that Sigma wide-angle, Chakraborty distorts the horizon, turning the ground into a tilted plane of kinetic energy. It’s a frantic, beautiful disruption of space. I’m genuinely struck by how the blur of the wheels softens the harsh Kolkata light, transforming solid mass into pure velocity. It’s a fleeting, honest collision of human movement and urban void.
Santiago Reyes Street Photography, The City & the Unrepeatable Instant Expert Review
Kolkata’s Gorer Math is alive here. You’ve got three kids defying gravity, and Chakraborty didn’t blink. It’s raw, kinetic energy. I love how the wide-angle lens pulls me into the dirt with them. One tenth of a second later and the balance shifts, the frame collapses into a blur. He caught the peak of the arc. It’s not just motion; it’s the exact heartbeat of a stunt. Winogrand would’ve tipped his hat to this timing.
Victoria Ashby Wildlife, Nature & the Ethics of the Unseen Moment Expert Review
It’s a kinetic, adrenaline-fueled shot, but I can’t help but feel a bit uneasy. Chasing subjects on a bike to force a wide-angle perspective isn't patience; it’s an extraction. When I’m in the field, I wait for the animal to come to me, undisturbed. Here, the proximity feels intrusive rather than earned. It’s technically sharp, sure, but it lacks the quiet respect that turns a mere snapshot into a genuine, honest record of life.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm. It’s a violent focal length for action. The distortion pulls the bicycle frames into a forced, aggressive geometry. Shooting at 7 frames per second was the only way to catch this, yet the motion blur on the rear wheel feels sloppy. I’ve spent years chasing this kind of kinetic precision; it’s frustratingly close to perfect. The wide perspective demands absolute proximity. He got close enough. The technical risk paid off.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The golden hour at Gorer Math isn't just about the light; it’s about the suspension of gravity. I feel a sudden, sharp ache in my own knees watching these boys defy the earth. They’ve caught the sun’s final, raking glow, turning dust into a halo. It’s not just motionβ€”it’s a prayer of kinetic energy. I’ve stood in such fields, waiting for the air to hold its breath. Here, the land finally let them fly.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At 10mm, the Sigma’s wide-angle distortion stretches the focal plane, pulling the bicycle’s geometry into a kinetic arc. It’s a violent, beautiful optical pull. The diffraction of light across the spokes, caught mid-rotation, reveals a sharpness the human eye simply can’t resolve in real-time. I’m genuinely breathless at how the lens captures that fleeting, blurred vibration of the tires. It’s not just motion; it’s the physics of adrenaline rendered through glass. I’ve never seen Kolkata look this fast.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The wide lens pulls the sky into the frame. It’s vast. The boys are suspended in that blue expanse, caught in a frantic, upward arc. I feel a sudden, sharp ache for the ground they’ve left behind. It’s a reckless climb. Yet, the emptiness surrounding them is the true weight of the work. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s the breath before the fall. I’m holding mine.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Astrid Halvorsen

The Velocity of Air

There is a specific quality to the air just before a storm breaks, a heavy, pressurized stillness that seems to hold the weight of everything that has not yet happened. It is a moment of suspension, where the atmosphere feels thick enough to lean against.

Read the reflection →
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of Air

Gravity is a constant, yet we spend our lives trying to negotiate with it. We run, we jump, we push our bodies into the empty space between the ground and the sky, hoping for a second of suspension. It is a brief rebellion.

Read the reflection →

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