Ikra by Derya Yazar Atasever

Captured within the ancient, weathered walls of a ruined mosque in Cappadocia, this evocative image portrays a young woman immersed in quiet devotion. As the sun dips below the horizon, the fading light enhances the profound mysticism of the setting, casting a serene glow over her prayer rug and rosary. The title, 'Ikra,' meaning 'read,' serves as a poignant nod to the origins of the Quran. The photograph is award-worthy for its masterful use of natural light and its ability to distill a complex, historical atmosphere into a singular, deeply intimate moment of spiritual reflection.

Ikra by Derya Yazar Atasever
Nikon D810 with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
Exposure 1/80sec @ f/4 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 32mm
Copyright Β© Derya Yazar Atasever
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Derya Yazar Atasever

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1971, Derya Yazar Atasever is a distinguished Master of Fine Arts and EFIAP recipient currently based in Cappadocia. Beyond her professional background in health management and nursing, she has dedicated her life to the intersection of art and healing, notably utilizing art therapy for patients with mental health conditions. As an active member of the international photography community, she serves as a competition juror, educator, and advocate for the medium, while her academic research explores the historical development of photography within the medical sector.

Profile View Full Profile
8.4/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
75/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
3,468 views | 6 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date April 28, 2023
71.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 14.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Nevsehir, Turkey

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Derya Yazar Atasever Photography
Spiritual Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (8.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
2.3/5 points
456/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
3,468/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.8/5 points
75/500 Submission
Jury Score: 71.0/80
Resonance Score: 8.1/20
Total Award Score: 79.1/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 6

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most spiritual photography feels staged, but this captures a genuine stillness I haven't seen in years. The way the light clings to the prayer beads, rather than just the subject, creates a tactile sense of devotion. It’s the restraint that wins here; many photographers would have over-lit the shadows, but Derya let the ruin swallow the edges. I’d bet this image will still feel quiet and profound in thirty years. It’s a rare, honest grace.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Cappadocia’s light here evokes the soft, diffused luminosity found in Julia Margaret Cameron’s late portraits, yet it’s grounded by the stark, ruinous geometry of the mosque. Atasever’s framing of the prayer rug recalls the intentional stillness in KertΓ©sz’s interiors. I’ve spent decades tracing this intersection of faith and architecture, but the way the 32mm lens pulls the viewer into that intimate, quiet devotion genuinely caught my breath. It’s a rare, haunting dialogue with the past.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You waited for that light to hit the prayer rug just right, and it pays off. There’s a quiet weight in this room that I’ve felt in places where history feels heavy. You didn’t just photograph a woman praying; you caught the stillness of her breath. It’s rare to see such intimacy in a ruin. Because you were patient, the camera didn’t intrude. You captured a moment of genuine surrender. That’s a rare, honest thing.
Julian Rowe Experimental Photography, Motion & Alternative Visual Languages Expert Review
The jury’s obsession with clarity here misses the point. By pinning the subject to the wall with such clinical sharpness, Atasever ignores the potential for the mosque’s history to bleed into the present. I’d have preferred a slower shutter to let the light dissolve the architecture into pure spirit. Why resolve the rosary beads so precisely? It’s a missed opportunity for abstraction. I find myself wanting the dust to dance, not just sit there, perfectly still.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the ruined stone, something in the chest softens. It’s the silence of the light, I think. Watching the woman, I feel my own breath hitch, mirroring her stillness. It’s a quiet activation of the nerves, a recognition of something ancient. When I return to this a year from now, I’ll still feel that cooling shadow on my skin. It’s not just a prayer; it’s the weight of time settling into the marrow.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/4, the 32mm focal plane renders the prayer rug’s texture with a crispness that defies the fading ambient light. I’m genuinely moved by how the lens resolves the rosary’s subtle highlights; it’s a delicate dance of diffraction against the mosque’s weathered stone. The bokeh, a function of that wide aperture, softens the ancient architecture into a gentle, spiritual blur. It’s rare to see such technical precision capture the quiet, ephemeral weight of human devotion so perfectly.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Kenji Watanabe

The Weight of a Whisper

The stone remembers the knee. It remembers the weight of a body seeking something beyond the reach of the hand. We build walls to hold the sky, but the sky always finds a way to leak through the cracks.

Read the reflection →
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of the Unspoken

We are taught that prayer is a conversation, but perhaps it is merely a way to endure the silence. There are rooms where the air feels older than the stone, where the dust settles on thoughts we have not yet dared to name.

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 *

Crossing the Street on a Rainy Day by Adriano MorCrossing the Street on a Rainy Day by Adriano Mor - Photojournalism, Art Photography, Black and White Photography, Street Photography, Photography EducationA Rainy Day by Fidan Nazim Qizi - Photojournalism, Photography Award, Black and White Photography, Rainy Day Photography, Photo of the DayA Rainy Day by Fidan Nazim Qizi