This split-second photograph balances and breaks symmetry in one frame – captured on the Nikon Z5 – 1v1 Video Chat & LIve Streaming & Influencer Subscription

By Kim Bunermann

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This split-second photograph balances and breaks symmetry in one frame – captured on the Nikon Z5

Kim Bunermann

5 July 2025

Discover how this award-winning travel photographer used light, timing, and Nikon gear to craft a quietly powerful image

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Al-Hakim Mosque Shutter showcases a visually interesting interplay between symmetry and interruption
(Image credit: Yasser Alaa Mobarak)

Professional photographer, Yasser Alaa Mobarak, is an award-winning travel photographer from Alexandria, Egypt. His internationally published work is created exclusively using Nikon gear.

As the headline suggests, this image is all about timing and composition. Yasser pressed the shutter at the right moment to capture a sense of calm symmetry – deliberately broken by one dynamic, off-center element that adds a subtle but compelling tension.
For this particular image, Yasser used the Nikon Z5 paired with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S. The shot was captured at 1/2000 sec, f/4 and the minimum sensitivity of ISO50 (the Z5 can actually go up to ISO51,200!). Now, let’s take a closer look at Al-Hakim Mosque Shutter and discuss Yasser’s creative process and gear choices in more detail.

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Historically shaped background
“Al-Hakim Mosque is the fourth-oldest mosque in Egypt. It was opened in 1013. I waited until the boy was in the right place, framed by vertical lines that suggest strengths. Curves suggest beauty. There is positive space in front of the boy that creates a dynamic feeling. And there is a contrast of colors and a small reflection. We have vertical lines, horizontal lines, diagonal lines, and curves, creating a pattern and symmetry with interruption.”

Repeating image elements
“The pattern is visually interesting, but becomes more interesting with the interruption. The boy’s yellow shirt is the mentioned interruption, breaking the symmetry and pattern. So, while the symmetry creates a sense of order, calmness, and harmony, the image gains an aesthetically pleasing and visually satisfying feeling.
Dynamic human figure
“The presence of the boy creates a sense of scale to show how huge the mosque is. The colors of the human figure create a contrast with the green and blue. Light and shadow create further depth in the scene. The biggest technical challenge was to freeze the boy in the right place, for this I used a fast shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.”

(Image credit: Nikon)
Yasser shoots with the Nikon Z5, a full-frame mirrorless camera that shares many key features with the Z6 – but at a more accessible price point. It’s fully weather-sealed, offers 5 stops of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and houses a 24.3MP sensor.

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While it sits in a competitive price bracket alongside several similarly specced cameras (like the Sony A7 III, Panasonic Lumix S5II and Canon EOS R6 Mark II), the Z5 remains Yasser’s go-to for his professional travel photography.
Now, spotlight on the lens: the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S. With its focal range, it’s ideal for capturing scenes where environmental context adds storytelling depth and visual interest.
Weighing just 500g, this standard zoom is compact and lightweight – especially when compared to optics like the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 E ED VR for DSLRs, which tips the scales at over 1,000g.
Its big brother, the Nikkor Z 24070mm f/2.8 S, has a bigger maximum aperture, but it’s also heavier (805g for the f/2.8 S) and pricier. That makes the f/4 an appealing choice for travel photographers who need to keep their kit streamlined.

(Image credit: Yasser Alaa Mobarak)
Yasser is not just an award-winning photographer at Zuma Press, he’s also visiting instructor at Delhi College of Photography in India and a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK. To see more of his work, visit his website or Instagram account.
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Kim Bunermann

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Staff Writer

Kim is the Staff Writer on Digital Camera World, and formerly Technique Editor at Digital Photographer, focusing on the art and science of photography. With a Master’s degree in Photography and Media, she is driven to educate through an analytical approach, visually and technically. With her guides and tutorials, Kim seeks to uncover new facets of this time-honoured medium and foster a deeper understanding of its profound role in culture. Kim highlights topics that resonate with modern society, including women in photography and critical issues such as environmental conservation. She also discusses and reviews camera gear, giving you an overview to find the best fit for your photography journey.

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