23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Sleeping on the Edge of Survival

In this photograph, the fragile line between survival and abandonment becomes painfully visible. Two children sleep on a thin sheet laid over a harsh concrete ground, while just beside them lies a mountain of waste—an unwanted world they never chose, yet are forced to grow up within. The scene raises a silent but urgent question: What does childhood mean when the world becomes a battleground for basic existence? This image is not just documentation; it is a confrontation. It reflects an entire generation living on the margins—unprotected, unnoticed, and unspoken for. Through this frame, I want the viewer to feel the weight of inequality, the tenderness of innocence, and the haunting truth that dignity is not equally accessible to all. My intention is to bring these invisible lives into global awareness, urging us to rethink responsibility, compassion, and the meaning of humanity in modern society.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: dhaka, Bangladesh
Copyright: © Istiyak Ahamed