The Award Award Showcase The Gallery Publications Gears University Expeditions About Us Career Learning & AI Future Curriculum Curiosity & Consciousness Sign In Submit Your Work →

Identifying Black Drongo by Rahat Azim Chowdhury

Captured within the lush surroundings of the National Botanical Garden in Dhaka, this striking portrait of a Black Drongo highlights the bird's iconic, wholly black plumage and distinctive forked tail. The photographer utilized a long focal length to isolate the subject against a soft, natural backdrop, emphasizing the bird's alert posture. Known as the 'Royal Crow' for its fearless, aggressive defense of its territory, the Black Drongo is captured here with remarkable clarity. This image is award-worthy for its technical precision in wildlife documentation, successfully freezing a moment of stillness in a species renowned for its spirited and dynamic behavior in the wild.

Identifying Black Drongo by Rahat Azim Chowdhury
EOS-550D with EF- 75-300mm
Exposure 1/400sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 800 | Focal Length 300mm
Copyright Β© Rahat Azim Chowdhury
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Rahat Azim Chowdhury

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1984 and based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Rahat Azim Chowdhury is a computer engineer who has channeled his lifelong fascination with nature and human life into a dedicated photographic practice. After formal training at the PRISM Photography Institute, he has developed a diverse portfolio spanning wildlife, street, and architectural photography. Driven by a desire to explore global social patterns and cultural landscapes, he focuses on creating a unique visual signature that prioritizes artistic expression and exploration over commercial gain.

Profile View Full Profile
12.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
234/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
19,091 views | 8 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date August 11, 2013
63.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 16.0
Style 12.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Dhaka, Bangladesh

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Rahat Azim Chowdhury Photography
Wildlife Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.5/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,820/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
19,091/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
3/100 Review
Submissions
2.3/5 points
234/500 Submission
Jury Score: 63.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.5/20
Total Award Score: 75.5/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The bird sits. It’s a sharp silhouette against the blur of the garden. I’m struck by the reach of that forked tail. It cuts the air. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty; it’s a breath held in the humidity of Dhaka. I’ve spent minutes just watching the stillness. It doesn’t need the movement of the forest. It’s enough. The silence is heavy. It’s perfect.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
The Black Drongo is a twitchy, aggressive little creature; it doesn't sit still for tourists. Capturing that sharp, alert posture at 300mm suggests Chowdhury spent a fair few humid mornings in the Botanical Garden waiting for the bird to stop its frantic patrolling. I’ve spent enough time in damp hides to appreciate the stillness required here. It’s a clean, honest bit of work. One suspects he earned this frame the hard way. I quite like it.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most wildlife shots are just trophies, but this one lingers. Of the thousands I’ve reviewed, it’s the Drongo’s sharp, predatory gaze that anchors the frame. The shallow depth of field isolates the bird perfectly, turning a common garden visitor into a regal silhouette. I’ll admit, the slight noise in the shadows bothered me initially, but the sheer intensity of that eye makes me forgive it. It’s a rare, quiet moment of stillness that’ll actually endure.
Eleanor Voss Composition & Visual Structure Expert Review
The bird’s silhouette anchors the frame, slicing the negative space with geometric precision. That forked tail provides the necessary counterweight to the beak’s sharp vector. It’s a rigid, calculated architecture. The background blur doesn't distract; it reinforces the subject’s isolation. I’ve rarely seen such disciplined placement of mass in wildlife work. The composition holds because it refuses to soften. It’s cold, it’s precise, and frankly, it’s the only way to capture such a creature.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The air in the Botanical Garden must have been heavy, humid, and still. He waited, I’m sure, until the Drongo forgot he was there. It’s that silence I recognizeβ€”the moment the bird stops being a subject and becomes a part of the landscape’s breath. I feel a sudden, quiet ache for that stillness. He didn’t chase the shot; he let the bird’s dark, forked silhouette emerge from the soft, green blur of the Dhaka morning.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of the Silhouette

There is a particular kind of silence that belongs to the bird. It does not need to speak to define the space it occupies. It sits, a dark ink-stain against the pale, indifferent sky, holding its own gravity.

Read the reflection →
By Clara Menezes

The Ink of the Sky

We often mistake stillness for an absence of intent, as if the world pauses only when it has nothing left to say. But look at the shadow that holds its breath against the light.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.

8 replies
    • Rahat Azim Chowdhury says:

      Thanks Light & Composition Magazine to nominate the photograph for award. Obviously the viewers also to like and comment on it.

      Reply

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 *

The Weight of Small ThingsThe Boy with Crab, by Shahnaz Parvin - Documentary Photography, Photojournalism, Photography Awards, Art Photography, Photo of the DayThe Craftsman of Jute, by Shahnaz Parvin - Photojournalism, Documentary Photography, Award-Winning Photography, Candid Photography, Art PhotographyThe Craftsman of Jute, by Shahnaz ParvinThe Weight of the Fiber