Slide by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Captured against the vibrant backdrop of Phangan Villa Beach in Thailand, this photograph documents the high-energy world of kitesurfing. The photographer immersed himself in the local kitesurfing school’s activities, seeking to translate the raw motion and beauty of the sport into a compelling visual narrative. By balancing the dynamic action of the riders with the serene coastal environment of Koh Phangan, the image captures a fleeting, exhilarating moment of athletic prowess. This work is award-worthy for its ability to freeze complex, fast-paced movement while maintaining a clear, artistic perspective on the intersection of human skill and the natural elements.

Slide by Ryszard Wierzbicki
Copyright © Ryszard Wierzbicki
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Ryszard Wierzbicki

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1963, Ryszard Wierzbicki is a Polish-born photographer and educator currently based in Swindon, United Kingdom. After a diverse career in social sciences and marketing, he transitioned into a life of travel, photography, and scuba diving instruction. His work is deeply influenced by his extensive explorations of South-East Asia and his commitment to humanitarian efforts, including volunteering with orphanages. Through his platforms, Instant Travelling and World Around, he shares his passion for documenting the world’s cultures and landscapes with an international audience.

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11.8/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
144/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
9,089 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 30, 2018
69.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Phangan Villa Beach, Thongsala, Koh Phangan Island, Surat Thani, Thailand

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Adventure Photography
Ryszard Wierzbicki Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,184/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
9,089/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
1.4/5 points
144/500 Submission
Jury Score: 69.0/80
Resonance Score: 11.4/20
Total Award Score: 80.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
Kitesurfing on Koh Phangan looks exhilarating, but I can’t shake the feeling of distance here. Why does the local landscape serve merely as a backdrop for Western leisure? The rider dominates the frame, while the Thai coast becomes a blurred, exotic accessory. It’s technically sharp, sure, but it feels hollow. Does the photographer see the community beyond the sport? I’m left wondering who actually owns this beach when the wind dies down. It’s unsettling.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The kite pulls against the horizon. It’s a sharp line cutting through the blue. I’ve spent too long looking at the water, waiting for the motion to settle. It doesn't. The rider is a speck, a brief interruption in the vastness of the sea. It makes me feel small, almost breathless. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s the weight of the wind. A quiet, salt-stung pause.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the kite, something in the chest tightens, anticipating the fall. It’s the kinetic tension of the line that pulls at my own muscles. I’ve felt that specific, salt-stung vertigo before. When I return to this, the adrenaline fades, leaving only the quiet ache of a summer that’s already gone. It doesn’t just document a sport; it captures the exact, fragile second where gravity loses its grip on our restless, human bodies.
Victoria Ashby Wildlife, Nature & the Ethics of the Unseen Moment Expert Review
Kitesurfing isn't wildlife, but the beach is a fragile ecosystem. Watching this, I can’t help but worry about the nesting shorebirds I’ve spent months protecting. Was this rider’s proximity to the shoreline managed, or just reckless? It’s a sharp, kinetic shot, sure, but I’m left wondering what was displaced for that spray of water. I’d trade the adrenaline for a little more restraint. We’ve got to stop treating every wild space like a playground.
Julian Rowe Experimental Photography, Motion & Alternative Visual Languages Expert Review
The jury’s obsession with freezing the kitesurfer’s motion feels like a missed opportunity. It’s technically competent, sure, but it’s safe. I’d have preferred the blur of the lines to swallow the rider entirely. Why resolve the athlete so sharply against the surf? It’s closer to a postcard than Sugimoto’s meditative long-exposures. I’m genuinely frustrated here; the kinetic energy of Koh Phangan deserves a visual language that doesn't just document, but actually breathes.
Marcus Trent Human Truth, Documentary & The Decisive Moment Expert Review
You’ve caught the tension in the lines and the spray of the water, but I’m looking for the person behind the kite. It’s technically sharp, sure, but I don’t feel the grit of the sand or the rider’s pulse. And that’s what I crave. You’ve got the action down, but I need to see the human effort, not just the sport. I’d love to see you get closer to the struggle next time.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
The shutter speed here has effectively neutralized the motion blur, allowing the lens to resolve the water droplets suspended in the air with startling clarity. I’m genuinely moved by the way the light refracts through that spray; it’s a perfect demonstration of spherical aberration control. The focal plane is razor-thin, isolating the kitesurfer against the bokeh of the Andaman Sea. It’s rare to see such technical precision applied to the chaotic, salt-sprayed physics of a high-speed sport.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of Gravity

In the study of physics, we are taught that gravity is a constant, a silent tether that keeps our feet anchored to the earth and our belongings from drifting into the ether.

Read the reflection →
By Owen Callister

The Physics of Release

When a seed pod of the touch-me-not plant reaches full maturity, it stores potential energy in its coiled valves, waiting for the slightest vibration to trigger a violent, beautiful release.

Read the reflection →

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