13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
A man sits in contemplation in front of the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

I noticed this man as I was touring the grounds of the famous Rila monastery in Bulgaria. He was sitting on the steps of the monastery building, in a sullen or contemplative mood, his head bent. Who knows what thoughts might have weighed on his mind, in this holy place. The mourning of a loved one, perhaps, or the contemplation of life itself. I'll never know for sure, but it was a powerful image that is hard to forget.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2013
Date Uploaded: 11.2015
Photo Location: Bulgaria
Camera: DMC-G3
Copyright: © Manol Manolov