How to Fly a Kite by Derya Yazar Atasever
Captured against the majestic, snow-dusted backdrop of Erciyes Mountain near Hörmetçi Village, this image documents a tender moment of connection between two brothers. As their families gather for a picnic, the older brother patiently teaches the younger one the art of flying a kite. The photographer masterfully utilizes the expansive, natural landscape to frame this intimate human interaction, emphasizing the joy of exploration and shared play. The photograph is award-worthy for its ability to transform a simple, fleeting family memory into a timeless narrative of childhood discovery and the enduring bond between siblings amidst the grandeur of the Turkish wilderness.
Exposure 1/160sec @ f/22 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 48mm
Derya Yazar Atasever
Born in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1971, Derya Yazar Atasever is a distinguished Master of Fine Arts and EFIAP-certified photographer currently based in Cappadocia. Beyond her professional background in health management and nursing, she has dedicated her career to the intersection of art and therapy, notably utilizing photography to support patients with mental health conditions. An active leader in the international photography community, she serves as a competition juror, educator, and advocate for social responsibility projects, while continuing to champion the artistic mission of photography within her home region.
Resonance Score Breakdown
Transparency Note: The resonance score (7.9/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.
Expert Photography Reviews · 3
The Weight of the String
It is 3:14 am. The house is holding its breath, and I am thinking about the things we teach children to hold onto. We give them strings, ribbons, and promises, telling them that if they just keep a firm grip, they can make something dance against the sky.
Read the reflection →The String Between Us
We are born into a world that pulls away from us. A kite is merely a physical manifestation of this distance, a fragile shape tethered to the earth by a thin, invisible line.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.
The mountain’s jagged horizon line creates a brutal, horizontal anchor. It’s a rigid fulcrum against which the kite’s diagonal trajectory pulls. The negative space isn’t merely empty; it’s a vacuum demanding resolution. While the brothers’ proximity provides a necessary focal weight, the composition’s geometry is what truly holds the frame. I’ve grown weary of sentimental travelogue, but the sheer, icy discipline of this spatial tension is, quite frankly, a relief to behold.
The kite string is taut, but the younger boy’s posture is all wrong. He’s leaning back, bracing for a pull that hasn’t happened yet. It’s a millisecond too early; he’s anticipating the flight rather than feeling the tension. I’ve spent my life chasing that precise instant of kinetic release, and this misses the mark. It’s a sweet scene, sure, but it’s not the peak moment. It’s just the setup. I wanted to see the lift.
The vast, snow-dusted expanse of Erciyes recalls the stark, elemental isolation found in early landscape daguerreotypes, yet here, the human element softens the frame. It’s a delicate balance; the f/22 aperture keeps the mountain’s grandeur sharp, grounding the brothers in a lineage of pastoral photography that stretches back to Emerson. I’ve seen countless kite-flying tropes, but the genuine, unposed intimacy between these two brothers actually caught me off guard. It’s a rare, quiet breath of fresh air.