Saint Patrick’s Kiwis by Rodrigo Aliaga

For this food photography assignment, the photographer meticulously arranged thin slices of kiwi against a window, utilizing a white backdrop to capture the interplay of light. By carefully positioning the fruit to allow natural illumination to pass through the translucent slices, the photographer created a vibrant, glowing composition. The use of a toothpick to stabilize the delicate fruit demonstrates a high level of technical precision. This image is award-worthy for its clean, minimalist aesthetic and the creative use of backlighting, which transforms simple, everyday ingredients into a compelling study of texture, color, and light.

Saint Patrick’s Kiwis by Rodrigo Aliaga
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Exposure 1/40sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 800 | Focal Length 135mm
Copyright Β© Rodrigo Aliaga
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Rodrigo Aliaga

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Rodrigo Tato Aliaga is a professional director of photography with extensive experience in film production and television advertising. Transitioning his expertise from analog film to digital photography, he has found a unique niche in food photography, where he masterfully blends technical precision with artistic creativity. His work is defined by a commitment to achieving exquisite visual results, reflecting his deep understanding of lighting, composition, and the narrative power of the lens.

Profile View Full Profile
7.8/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
75/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
3,681 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date January 25, 2023
65.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
La Paz, Bolivia

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Food Photography
Rodrigo Aliaga Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (7.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
1.6/5 points
321/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
3,681/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.8/5 points
75/500 Submission
Jury Score: 65.0/80
Resonance Score: 7.4/20
Total Award Score: 72.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Mei-Ling Chen Pattern, Geometry, Abstract Form & Visual Mathematics Expert Review
The radial symmetry of these kiwi slices creates a compelling geometric grid. By aligning the circular seeds along the vertical axis, Aliaga solves the spatial problem of organic chaos. The 1:1 ratio of light transmission through the translucent pulp against the negative quadrant of the white backdrop is mathematically precise. I’m genuinely struck by how the toothpick’s diagonal vector disrupts the pattern, grounding the floating forms. It’s a beautifully calculated equation of texture and light.
Rafael Ortega Shutter Technique, Motion & the Cinematic Single Frame Expert Review
Light bleeds through the kiwi slices like a stained-glass window in a quiet cathedral. It’s a static sequence, a macro-shot that breathes. The backlighting turns simple fruit into glowing, organic film cells. I’m struck by the tension; that toothpick is the only thing holding the scene together, preventing a collapse. It’s a frame the editor keeps because it captures the exact moment light turns texture into narrative. I’d watch this frame for hours.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/5.6, the 135mm focal length compresses the kiwi’s cellular structure, pushing the limits of the Canon’s sensor. The backlighting forces photons through the fruit’s translucent pericarp, revealing a mesmerizing, organic geometry. I’m genuinely moved by how the light scatters through those tiny, dark seeds; it’s a masterclass in refractive index. It doesn’t just show fruitβ€”it captures the physics of life itself. It’s a rare, luminous moment where optics and biology collide in perfect, quiet harmony.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Translucency isn't clarity; it’s a veil. By pinning these kiwis against the window, the light doesn't reveal the fruit, it interrogates its cellular architecture. I’m unsettled by the toothpickβ€”that jagged, metallic intrusion into the organic. It’s a violent anchor in an otherwise ethereal space. We’re staring at a biological autopsy masquerading as breakfast. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s a cold, clinical beauty that refuses to let me look away from the rot waiting beneath the rind.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
We look at these translucent kiwi slices and we don’t just see fruit; we see a quiet, patient conversation. Rodrigo has listened to the light, letting it reveal the hidden, emerald veins of the harvest. It’s a portrait of stillness. I find myself leaning in, searching for the hands that placed that tiny toothpick, feeling the gentle care behind the lens. It’s a photograph that asks to be returned to, a beautiful, glowing secret shared.
Franz Hubner Night Photography, Astrophotography & the Scale of the Cosmos Expert Review
It’s strange to see a kiwi slice treated with the same reverence I usually reserve for a nebula. At f/5.6, the light passing through that fruit is just photons hitting a sensor, much like the ancient starlight I track. The translucent green cells look like a microscopic galaxy. I’ve spent my life looking up, but this quiet, glowing geometry in La Paz makes me feel surprisingly grounded. It’s a beautiful, humble collision of light and matter.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You’ve got a sharp eye for light, Rodrigo. Those kiwis glow like stained glass, and I appreciate the patience it took to balance them. But I’m looking for the person behind the fruit. Where’s the hunger, or the hands that sliced them? It’s technically perfect, yet it feels a bit cold to me. I want to see the life in La Paz, not just the produce. You’ve got the skill; now, find the pulse.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Beatriz Andrade

The Geometry of Morning Light

There is a market stall in La Paz where the fruit is stacked with the precision of a clockmaker’s workshop. I often find myself lingering there, not to buy, but to watch how the morning sun catches the edges of things.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Architecture of Light

There is a quiet alchemy in how the sun chooses to reveal the hidden geometry of the earth. We often walk past the ordinaryβ€”the rind of a fruit, the vein of a leafβ€”without realizing that beneath the surface lies a cathedral of light waiting to be unlocked.

Read the reflection →

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