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Yes You Can! by Kirsten Bruening

In 'Yes You Can!', Kirsten Bruening captures a poignant, humanistic message through the lens of portraiture. Taken in Cologne, Germany, with a Nikon Z7 at a focal length of 70mm, the image serves as a visual manifesto for kindness, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship. By isolating her subject with a shallow depth of field, the photographer emphasizes the raw, emotive power of the human spirit. The photograph is award-worthy for its ability to transcend simple portraiture, transforming a quiet moment into a powerful call to action that reminds viewers that individual empathy is the catalyst for global change.

Yes You Can! by Kirsten Bruening
Nikon Z7 | Exposure 1/6400sec @ f/4.5 | ISO 640 | Focal Length 70mm
Copyright Β© Kirsten Bruening
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Kirsten Bruening

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based near Cologne, Germany, Kirsten Bruening is a dedicated photographer whose creative journey began in childhood with the tactile exploration of analogue film. After a fifteen-year hiatus, she returned to the craft with a renewed focus on the interplay of light and shadow in nature, portraiture, and wildlife. Currently pursuing formal studies to refine her technical expertise, she is committed to capturing the profound beauty and emotional depth found within her subjects.

Profile View Full Profile
8.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
84/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
4,825 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date March 3, 2022
63.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 16.0
Style 12.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Cologne, Germany

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Close-Up Photography
Kirsten Bruening Photography
Portrait Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (8.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
2.6/5 points
516/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
4,825/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.8/5 points
84/500 Submission
Jury Score: 63.0/80
Resonance Score: 8.4/20
Total Award Score: 71.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the subject, a sudden stillness settles in the chest. It’s the shallow depth of field that does it; the way the background dissolves, forcing an intimate, almost uncomfortable proximity to the subject’s gaze. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for a permission I didn’t know I needed. When I return to this, the urgency of the title feels less like a command and more like a quiet, persistent heartbeat.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You caught a look here that feels like a quiet promise. It’s not just a portrait; it’s a moment of genuine connection. I’ve spent years looking for that flicker of belief in a subject’s eyes, and you found it. Because you didn’t rush, the humanity in this frame actually lands. It makes me want to be a better person just for having seen it. You waited, and I can feel it. That’s rare work.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
1/6400sec at f/4.5, ISO 640, 70mm. It’s a baffling technical contradiction. Why push the shutter to 1/6400sec only to drag the ISO to 640? You’ve introduced unnecessary noise for no gain in motion freezing. The f/4.5 aperture at 70mm provides a shallow plane, but the sensor data reveals a photographer fighting her own gear. I’m genuinely irritated by the wasted dynamic range here. The technical execution doesn't support the intent. It’s sloppy engineering.
Valentina Marchetti Environmental Portraiture & the Dialogue Between Person and Place Expert Review
The blurred urban geometry of Cologne creates a soft, chromatic hum behind the subject, turning the city into a gentle suggestion of movement. I’m struck by how the light catches the subject’s expression, grounding their quiet resolve within this fleeting, public space. It’s a beautiful tension; the environment doesn't just frame them, it anchors their empathy. I find myself wanting to step into that bokeh, to see exactly what they’re looking at beyond the lens.
Victoria Ashby Wildlife, Nature & the Ethics of the Unseen Moment Expert Review
A 70mm focal length for a portrait in Cologne suggests a photographer standing mere feet from their subject. It’s intimate, sure, but I find myself craving the distance that allows a creature to exist without feeling the weight of a lens. When we collapse space like this, we aren't observing; we’re imposing. I’ve spent weeks in blinds just to be ignored by a fox. This proximity feels extracted, not earned through the quiet discipline of patience.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Yuki Sato

The Quiet Strength of Being

There is a particular weight to the human spirit that does not announce itself with noise. It resides in the soft curve of a shoulder, the steady rhythm of a gaze, or the way a person stands against the backdrop of a changing world.

Read the reflection →
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of a Whisper

We are taught from a very young age that influence is a matter of volume. We believe that to be heard, one must shout, or at the very least, speak with a cadence that demands attention.

Read the reflection →

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