23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Passage into Light

This black and white image transforms an ordinary market passage into a study of light, form, and anonymity. Shot in a narrow, gantry-like hallway, the composition emphasizes the contrast between the silhouetted figures and the bright, undefined exit light. The dark tonalities and the texture of the metal walls create a claustrophobic effect, highlighting the contrast between the hidden realities of commerce and the dramatic burst of the outside world. The figures are reduced to pure silhouettes, symbolizing the universal, yet isolated, nature of the daily routine.

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