Step Away by Jean Baptiste Fernandez

Exhausted after a demanding week in the kitchen, Jean Baptiste Fernandez sought solace by driving from Bergen to the Hardangerfjord. Amidst a heavy downpour, the photographer pulled over, finding the raw, untamed landscape a perfect catalyst for reflection. This image captures that precise moment of release, where the intensity of the storm mirrors the photographer's internal need to step away from the pressures of professional life. The photograph is award-worthy for its evocative atmosphere and the profound sense of stillness it extracts from a chaotic, rain-swept environment, effectively translating a personal journey of reconnection into a powerful visual narrative.

Step Away by Jean Baptiste Fernandez
Canon M3 with EF-M 55-200mm
Exposure 1/125sec @ f/4.5 | ISO 1600 | Focal Length 105mm
Copyright Β© Jean Baptiste Fernandez
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Jean Baptiste Fernandez

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Toulouse, France, Jean Baptiste Fernandez began his culinary career at the age of thirteen, eventually finding in photography a vital counterbalance to the high-pressure environment of professional kitchens. Now based in Oslo, Norway, he uses his camera to capture moments of stillness and contemplation that stand in stark contrast to his daily professional life. His work is defined by a desire to freeze time, allowing him to express his inner world and reconnect with the freedom found in the natural landscape.

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11.8/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
168/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
8,732 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date September 14, 2019
61.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 17.0
Style 11.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Hardangerfjord, Norway

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Jean Baptiste Fernandez Photography
Landscape Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.5/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
4.8/5 points
966/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
8,732/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.7/5 points
168/500 Submission
Jury Score: 61.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.5/20
Total Award Score: 72.5/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The slate-grey of the Hardangerfjord isn't merely weather; it’s the bruised, melancholic indigo one finds in a Morandi still life, bleeding into the charcoal mist of a Turner squall. It’s breathtaking, really. The way the light clings to the water’s surface, like oil on cold stone, creates a chromatic tension that feels almost suffocating. One finds it’s not just a landscape, but a visceral, chromatic exhale, where the palette finally stops fighting the soul.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
A Canon M3 in a downpour isn't exactly a recipe for comfort, is it? Most would’ve stayed in the car, but Fernandez clearly didn't. There’s a raw, shivering honesty in this frame that I find rather moving. It’s not a polished postcard; it’s a wet, miserable, and entirely earned moment of clarity. One suspects he stood there until his boots soaked through. That’s the price of admission, and he paid it in full. Well done.
Santiago Reyes Street Photography, The City & the Unrepeatable Instant Expert Review
Rain-swept Hardangerfjord. It’s raw, it’s cold, and I can almost feel the dampness seeping into my own bones. Most would keep driving, but Fernandez stopped. That’s the instinct. He caught the atmosphere right as the storm broke. One tenth of a second later and the mood shifts, the tension dissolves. It’s not a city street, but the timing is pure Cartier-Bresson. He didn't blink. He felt the release, and he nailed the shutter. Beautifully done.
Valentina Marchetti Environmental Portraiture & the Dialogue Between Person and Place Expert Review
The heavy, slate-grey mist of Hardangerfjord clings to the jagged rocks like a shroud, turning the landscape into a moody, monochromatic study of isolation. It’s a visceral, shivering beauty. The rain-slicked surfaces demand our attention before we even find the figure. When we finally see him, he’s small, dwarfed by the fjord’s indifference. I’ve never felt such a profound sense of relief in a storm. He isn't just standing there; he’s dissolving into the silence.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The rain here isn't just weather; it’s a veil. Standing by the Hardangerfjord, Jean Baptiste didn't fight the storm, he let it wash over him. I feel a strange, cold shiver looking at those muted bluesβ€”it’s the relief of finally letting go. He waited until the light turned flat and honest, stripping away the noise of the kitchen. It’s a quiet, heavy grace. I’ve been there, shivering in the mist, waiting for the world to stop.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/125sec at f/4.5, ISO 1600, 105mm. A telephoto lens in a downpour demands precision, yet this sensor noise is distracting. ISO 1600 on an M3 isn't a choice; it’s a failure of light management. I’d have preferred a tripod and a longer exposure to smooth that rain. It’s technically sloppy, honestly. The composition holds some weight, but the grain ruins the stillness. I feel a genuine irritation looking at the missed potential here. It’s just messy.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Yuki Sato

The Weight of Rain

There is a particular kind of grace found in the heavy downpour. When the sky turns grey and the world begins to blur, we are often tempted to seek shelter, to run toward the dry warmth of a room.

Read the reflection →
By Tom Bretherton

The Weight of the Rain

I remember sitting in a small cafe in Bergen, watching the rain turn the cobblestones into mirrors. A woman at the next table was staring out the window, her coffee long forgotten, her hands folded tight in her lap. She looked like she was carrying a mountain of unspoken things.

Read the reflection →

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