Long-tailed Shrike by Masudur Rahman
Captured during a quiet morning at the Muhuri Dam in Chittagong, this image of a Long-tailed Shrike highlights the photographer's patience and keen eye for wildlife. While exploring the dam, the photographer spotted the bird basking in the morning sunshine, a moment he had long hoped to document. The resulting photograph is award-worthy for its sharp focus and the serene, natural behavior it captures, transforming a simple encounter into a compelling portrait of avian life. The composition emphasizes the bird's elegant posture against the soft, warm light of the morning, showcasing the beauty of the species in its natural habitat.
Nicole Laris
Born and raised in Mexico City, Nicole Laris relocated in Berlin, Germany in 2018 to follow her true passion, photography. Within the years of experience in Mexico, photography never represented more than a part-time job, until the spark of traveling came along and self grown started to be the main goal in life. Believing in art, in your art, will contribute to society in levels of inspiration you can't imagine, which will eventually will lead to become the best version of yourself.After getting a degree in the entertainment management business, life became a routine with the main goal of going where the money was, without time or opportunities to discover hidden talents, passions or inspirations. Decided to pack a camera and give adventure a go.
Resonance Score Breakdown
Transparency Note: The resonance score (11.6/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.
Expert Photography Reviews · 4
The Weight of a Morning
I remember sitting on a rusted bench in a park in Kyoto, watching a sparrow navigate the space between two cherry trees. It didn't seem to care about the commuters rushing past or the heavy, grey clouds threatening rain.
Read the reflection →The Architecture of Stillness
To be perfectly still is not to be empty; it is to be a vessel waiting for the light to fill the corners. We spend our lives in a frantic choreography of movement, convinced that if we stop, the world will simply spin on without us.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
Share your thoughts about this award-winning photograph. Your reviews contribute to the community engagement score.
The morning air at Muhuri Dam holds a stillness that demands silence. He stood there, waiting for the light to soften, listening to the reeds shift before the shrike finally settled. It’s a quiet communion. I find myself holding my breath, feeling the warmth of that early sun on my own skin. He didn’t just capture a bird; he caught a fleeting, sacred grace. It’s the kind of patience that turns a simple portrait into prayer.
1/640sec at f/8, ISO 560, 400mm. The D800E demands precision, and Rahman delivered. Stopping down to f/8 was the right call; it’s the only way to ensure the shrike’s plumage remains sharp across that focal plane. I’ve seen too many wildlife shots ruined by wide-open glass. The ISO 560 is a bit noisy, but it’s a necessary trade-off for the shutter speed. It’s technically sound. I actually found myself leaning in to check the eye focus. It holds.
The Shrike perches, yet it doesn’t merely exist; it waits. Rahman’s light is too polite, too eager to reveal the plumage. I’m troubled by the lack of true, devouring black. Where is the abyss behind those feathers? Heidegger argued that truth happens in the clearing, but here, the light feels like a veil. I’d trade this clarity for a single, honest shadow. It’s a beautiful bird, but it’s hiding from the dark, and that’s a tragedy.
A single branch. The shrike sits, a sharp ink stroke against the pale, washed-out sky. I’ve spent years looking for this kind of stillness. It doesn’t demand attention. It simply exists. The vast, blurred background isn’t just air; it’s a breath held. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a quiet ache in my chest. I find myself leaning in, afraid that even a whisper might disturb the morning light.