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Kiwi on Lake Pukaki by Manon Mathieu

Captured during the tranquil transition of sunset near the vibrant blue waters of Lake Pukaki, this image freezes a moment of profound stillness. The photographer was drawn to the dramatic interplay between the snow-dusted mountains and the island’s unique topography, which resembles a sleeping kiwi bird. By utilizing an aerial perspective, the composition emphasizes the raw, untouched beauty of the New Zealand landscape. This award-worthy photograph succeeds through its evocative use of light and scale, inviting the viewer to pause and appreciate the quiet majesty of nature in its most serene state.

Kiwi on Lake Pukaki by Manon Mathieu
Drone Dji Mavic Air | Exposure 1/150sec @ f/2.8 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 24mm
Copyright Β© Manon Mathieu
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Manon Mathieu

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in the south of France, Manon Mathieu is a journalist who has resided in diverse locales ranging from Paris to Provence. Currently, she documents her global travels from a campervan, focusing on the landscapes and natural wonders of New Zealand. Her photography is driven by a deep desire to capture the moving, ephemeral beauty of the environments she encounters during her nomadic journey.

Profile View Full Profile
12.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
161/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
7,837 views | 16 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date November 30, 2019
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Best of Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography
Manon Mathieu Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
4.7/5 points
945/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
7,837/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.6/5 points
12/100 Review
Submissions
1.6/5 points
161/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.9/20
Total Award Score: 80.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most drone shots of Pukaki are just blue water and ego. What separates this from the pack is the restraint; Mathieu didn't chase the drama of the peaks, but the quiet geometry of that island. It’s a rare, grounded aerial. I’ve seen thousands of these, and honestly, this one makes me want to go there and just breathe. It’ll endure because it captures a specific, fragile stillness that won't feel dated in thirty years.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
The drone pulls back, revealing a landscape that breathes. It’s a wide tracking shot, silent and glacial. That island silhouetteβ€”the kiwiβ€”anchors the frame, preventing the blue expanse from drifting into abstraction. I’ve spent hours staring at this, and honestly, the stillness makes my chest ache. It’s the perfect establishing shot for a film that doesn’t exist. Mathieu knew exactly when to cut the motor. She held the frame, and the light did the rest.
Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The frame divides into a precise 1:2 ratio, anchoring the kiwi-shaped landmass against the glacial blue expanse. The diagonal vector of the shoreline creates a perfect tension with the mountain peaks, forcing the eye into a rhythmic oscillation. It’s a masterclass in spatial equilibrium. I’m genuinely struck by how the drone’s elevation resolves the chaotic topography into such clean, geometric variables. It’s not just a landscape; it’s a solved equation of mass and negative space.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The aerial perspective flattens the Pukaki basin into a rigid, geometric plane. The island’s silhouette acts as a necessary fulcrum, anchoring the glacial blue expanse. It’s a disciplined arrangement of mass. The negative space doesn't collapse; it holds the frame with clinical precision. I’ve grown tired of landscape sentimentality, but this structure demands respect. The tension between the sharp topography and the soft light is calculated. It’s a rare instance where the frame actually works.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Beatriz Andrade

The Weight of Stillness

I often find myself standing at the edge of a platform in Lisbon, watching the Tagus River as if it were a mirror waiting for a secret to be whispered.

Read the reflection →
By Rashid Noor

The Shape of Silence

If the earth were to dream, what form would its slumber take? We often mistake stillness for an absence of life, a pause in the rhythm of existence, yet the most profound transformations occur when the world holds its breath.

Read the reflection →

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