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Cha-Am Beach Horse Ride by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Captured along the serene shores of Cha-Am, this photograph offers a poignant glimpse into the intersection of local tradition and tourism. The image centers on a gentleman offering horse rides, a common sight that provides a quiet, authentic alternative to the bustling crowds of nearby Hua Hin. By choosing a wide-angle perspective, the photographer emphasizes the expansive, shady beach environment, grounding the subject within the natural beauty of the Thai coastline. The composition is award-worthy for its ability to transform a simple, everyday moment of coastal life into a narrative of cultural rhythm and peaceful seaside respite.

Cha-Am Beach Horse Ride by Ryszard Wierzbicki
Olympus E-PL10 | Exposure 1/400sec @ f/5 | ISO 200 | Focal Length 14mm
Copyright Β© Ryszard Wierzbicki
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryszard Wierzbicki

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1963 and a graduate of the University of GdaΕ„sk, Ryszard Wierzbicki transitioned from a diverse career in social sciences and marketing to become a dedicated traveler and photographer after relocating to the United Kingdom in 2006. His work is deeply influenced by his extensive explorations of South-East Asia and his commitment to charitable causes, such as his volunteer work with orphans in Thailand and Burma. Now based in Swindon, he balances his professional life as a marketing advisor with a passionate pursuit of photography and scuba diving, documenting the world through his travel-focused platforms.

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7.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
36/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
3,722 views | 4 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date July 23, 2023
60.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 16.0
Style 11.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Cha-Am, Thailand

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Ryszard Wierzbicki Photography
Travel Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (6.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
1.5/5 points
303/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
3,722/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.4/5 points
36/500 Submission
Jury Score: 60.0/80
Resonance Score: 6.9/20
Total Award Score: 66.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/5, the 14mm focal plane renders the horse’s texture with a crispness that defies the sensor’s modest resolution. I’m genuinely moved by how the light scatters across the damp sand; it’s a masterclass in micro-contrast. While the diffraction limit hasn't been reached, the lens resolves the rider’s silhouette against the coastal haze with startling clarity. It’s an optical triumph that captures the beach’s quiet rhythm, revealing a depth of field that feels almost tactile.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Wierzbicki’s wide-angle framing echoes the expansive, lonely horizons of early coastal surveys, yet it’s the quiet domesticity that catches me. It’s a departure from the romanticized, painterly seascapes of the Pictorialists, leaning instead toward the candid, unvarnished observation of the New Topographics. I’ve spent decades cataloging these beach scenes, but the way the horse’s stillness anchors the vast, shifting Thai light is genuinely refreshing. It’s a subtle, honest dialogue with the history of the seaside snapshot.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
One wonders if Wierzbicki spent a week on that sand or merely an afternoon. The light is pleasant enough, but it lacks the grit of a man who’s truly committed to the tide. It’s a clean shot, certainly, yet it feels a bit like a lucky tourist’s takeaway. I’ve spent enough hours shivering in the dark to know when a frame was earned. This one? It’s a polite acquaintance, not a lifelong friend.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the horse or the rider, a sudden stillness settles in the chest. It’s the weight of that expansive, humid shade. I find my own breath syncing with the animal’s slow, rhythmic gait. When I return to this, I don’t see a tourist attraction; I feel the sand’s resistance. It’s a quiet, aching reminder of how we drift through places we don’t belong, leaving only footprints that the tide will soon erase.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of the Tether

There is a quiet physics to the way we lead one another. We often imagine that to move through the world is an act of singular will, a solitary march toward a horizon of our own choosing.

Read the reflection →
By Kenji Watanabe

The Weight of the Tide

The sand remembers. It holds the imprint of a foot, the drag of a hoof, the slow retreat of water. We walk along the edge, believing we are leaving a mark.

Read the reflection →

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