23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Tenderness in the Alley

In the heart of a crowded alley, a boy cradles his rooster, their connection unfolding like a gentle rhythm. Amid laundry lines and concrete walls, their bond flows quietly—soft feathers brushing against the memory of childhood: no leash, no cage—only trust. The rooster’s red crown glows softly, a heartbeat steady in the boy’s embrace. In this fleeting moment, love needs no words- it is lived, held, and quietly pulses in the heart of pethood.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Camera: ILCE-7M3
Copyright: © Md. Saiful Islam Khan