Hope in the Dark by Everton Marcelino

On a rainy summer afternoon, the final rays of sunlight pierced the clouds to illuminate the bay of Santo Antonio de Lisboa beach. The photographer captured a poignant convergence of elements: weathered rocks, bobbing boats, and the shifting atmosphere of the coast. By focusing on the interplay between the breeze and the fading light, the image evokes a profound sense of hope amidst the quiet solitude of the shoreline. This photograph is award-worthy for its ability to transform a fleeting, unpredictable moment into a timeless study of coastal emotion and natural beauty.

Hope in the Dark by Everton Marcelino
Copyright Β© Everton Marcelino
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Everton Marcelino

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Brazil and based in the magical, nature-rich island of FlorianΓ³polis, Everton Marcelino finds his primary inspiration in the lives of seafarers and the artisanal tools of the fishing trade. His photography serves as a reflective mirror to the natural world, capturing the interplay of light and emotion with a sense of deep gratitude. Through his lens, he hunts for the hidden narratives within his surroundings, translating the quiet dignity of coastal life into evocative, award-winning imagery.

Profile View Full Profile
10.3/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
180/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
7,590 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date May 23, 2020
60.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 15.0
Style 11.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Florianopolis, Brazil

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Black & White Photography
Everton Marcelino Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (10.3/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
3.2/5 points
636/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
7,590/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
6/100 Review
Submissions
1.8/5 points
180/500 Submission
Jury Score: 60.0/80
Resonance Score: 10.3/20
Total Award Score: 70.3/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Valentina Marchetti Environmental Portraiture & the Dialogue Between Person and Place Expert Review
The weathered rocks and bobbing boats aren't mere scenery; they’re the anchors of this coastal narrative. That fleeting, golden light hitting the bay feels like a soft exhale against the encroaching rain. It’s a quiet, aching beauty that makes me want to stand right there on that damp sand. By placing the shoreline in such dialogue with the atmosphere, the environment tells us everything about resilience. It’s not just a view; it’s a feeling of profound, solitary hope.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
We look at these bobbing boats and the weathered rocks of Santo Antonio de Lisboa, and we hear the silence of a conversation held with the tide. Everton Marcelino didn't just photograph a bay; he listened to the rain until it whispered of resilience. It’s a portrait of a landscape that’s seen everything. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the light to return. It’s a photograph that asks to be returned to, again and again.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
It’s clear Marcelino didn't just stumble upon this. That specific, bruised light hitting the Santo Antonio boats suggests he’s spent hours shivering on that shoreline, waiting for the rain to break. I’ve stood in similar squalls, teeth chattering, praying for that singular, fleeting golden tear in the clouds. It’s a rare, earned moment of grace. One doesn't capture such quiet solitude without paying the full price in patience. It’s a respectable bit of work.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
Stripped of chromatic excess, the silver-grey luminescence here evokes the muted, dusty stillness of a Morandi study, where the charcoal shadows of the weathered rocks don't merely sit, but breathe against the pearlescent, rain-washed horizon. It’s a haunting, monochromatic ache that I find utterly devastating; one feels the damp, salt-heavy air clinging to those bobbing boats, a tactile, shifting atmosphere that captures the very soul of Florianopolis in its most fragile, fleeting light.
Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The composition hinges on a precise 1:2 ratio between the jagged, foreground rock mass and the expansive, negative space of the bay. Those boats act as anchor points, creating a rhythmic sequence along the horizon’s horizontal axis. It’s a beautifully solved spatial equation. I’m genuinely struck by how the light vectors converge on the water; it’s not just mood, it’s a perfect geometric tension that balances the frame’s weight. It’s math, rendered in salt and shadow.
Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
Santo Antonio de Lisboa feels staged here, doesn't it? The light hits the rocks with a precision that feels almost curated, stripping the bay of its actual, messy history. I’m unsettled by how the boats drift in this curated solitude. Whose coast are we consuming? Does this aestheticized hope erase the reality of those who live and work in these waters? It’s technically sharp, but it leaves me feeling cold, like I’m looking at a postcard of nowhere.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Farida Boussouf

The Weight of Remaining

It is 3:14 am. The house is holding its breath, and I am finally catching mine. There is a specific kind of ache that only arrives when the world stops pretending to be busy.

Read the reflection →
By Owen Callister

The Persistence of Light

In the deep forest, the mycelial network thrives in the absence of direct sun, drawing sustenance from the decay of what has already passed. It is a quiet, subterranean labor, a slow conversion of shadow into the energy required for the next cycle of growth.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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

6 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 *

Espana by Diana IvanovaEspana by Diana Ivanova - Aerial Photography, Photography Awards, Photo of the Day, Diana Ivanova, EspanaRoad by Rafal Ostapiuk - Street Photography, Award Winning Photography, Rafal Ostapiuk, Photo of the Day, Photography AwardsThe Geometry of Waiting