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Childhood by Azam Rasouli

Captured within the intimate setting of a home kitchen, this portrait documents a playful moment between a mother and her son. Utilizing soft, natural light instead of artificial flash, the photographer highlights the ethereal quality of smoke rising from extinguished candles. This candid interaction, supported by the presence of the photographer's mother, transforms a simple domestic activity into a poignant study of childhood curiosity. The image is award-worthy for its authentic emotional resonance and the skillful use of ambient light to create a serene, atmospheric narrative that elevates a fleeting family memory into a compelling piece of portraiture.

Childhood by Azam Rasouli
Nikon D7200 | ISO 0
Copyright Β© Azam Rasouli
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Azam Rasouli

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1976, Azam Rasouli is a dedicated photographer who balances her professional background in social work with a deep passion for the visual arts. Since beginning her photographic journey in 2019, she has developed a versatile portfolio that spans still life, nature, and portraiture. Currently based in Tehran, she captures the world through her Nikon D7200, finding inspiration in the everyday moments of family life and the quiet beauty of her surroundings.

Profile View Full Profile
9.2/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
105/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
7,442 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date May 28, 2021
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Tahran, Iran

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Azam Rasouli Photography
Portrait Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (8.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
2.8/5 points
560/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
7,442/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.1/5 points
105/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 8.9/20
Total Award Score: 77.9/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Kofi Asante Intimate Portraiture, Reportage & Lives Told Truthfully Expert Review
There’s a quiet, sacred trust here. You can tell the boy isn’t performing for a lens; he’s lost in the magic of that rising smoke, anchored by his mother’s presence. It’s a gift, not a capture. I’ve spent years in kitchens just like this, and seeing that unguarded wonder makes my own heart ache for the simplicity of being young. He’s truly present, and because he’s safe, we’re allowed to see his whole life in that gaze.
James Rokeby Camera Craft & Technical Execution Expert Review
Nikon D7200, ISO 0. That’s a digital impossibility, a metadata error that signals a lack of rigor. You’ve relied on ambient light to capture smoke, yet the lack of a defined shutter speed leaves the motion blur uncalculated. It’s a gamble that doesn't pay off. I’m genuinely irritated by the technical sloppiness here. You’ve got a poignant moment, but the execution is loose. Without precise control over your variables, you’re just guessing. It’s not enough.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You waited for that exact breath of smoke, didn't you? It’s a quiet, heavy moment. I’ve spent years in kitchens like this, and there’s a specific kind of stillness when a child is just watching the world fade. You didn't force the scene; you let the mother and son exist in their own orbit. And that’s the truth of it. It makes me miss my own home. You caught something real here. Respect.
Valentina Marchetti Environmental Portraiture & the Dialogue Between Person and Place Expert Review
The kitchen’s soft, diffused light catches the wisps of smoke, turning a mundane domestic space into a sanctuary of quiet wonder. It’s the way the candles anchor the frame that truly moves me; they aren't just props, but the very heartbeat of this memory. By placing the mother and child amidst these flickering shadows, the environment breathes life into their connection. I’m struck by how the room’s stillness makes their shared curiosity feel so profoundly eternal.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
It’s easy to snap a kitchen scene, but catching that precise drift of candle smoke requires a stillness most lack. One suspects the photographer sat for hours, waiting for the air to settle and the mother to forget the lens was there. It’s a quiet, earned moment. I’ve spent enough damp mornings in the hills to recognize the discipline here. It’s rare to see such patience indoors. It’s a lovely, honest bit of work.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Layla Ibrahim

The Weight of Small Things

Dear reader, I have been thinking about how we keep our ghosts. We don't hold them in graveyards or monuments; we keep them in the kitchen, in the way a spoon clinks against a ceramic bowl, or in the scent of a room just after the fire has been put out.

Read the reflection →
By Priya Kapoor

The Ghost of Wax and Breath

The smell of a just-snuffed candle is a specific kind of ache. It is the scent of a small, sudden deathβ€”a thin ribbon of grey smoke curling into the air, carrying the sharp, metallic tang of burnt wick and cooling wax.

Read the reflection →

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