23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Industrial Laundry

This image documents the intersection of human necessity and massive industry aboard a cargo ship or at a port facility. The harsh, abstract geometry of the industrial machinery—dominating yellow and blue cranes, metal rigging, and coiled cables—is contrasted by the simple, everyday sight of crew members’ laundry drying on a line in the center of the frame. This fleeting, human touch amidst the overwhelming scale of the machinery captures the unique rhythm of life at sea and the personal realities of those who operate these 'steel giants'.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Batumi, Georgia
Camera: NIKON D5100
Copyright: © Dimitri Gorgiladze