23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Agony and the Stick

The Subject: An older man, visibly frail and severely underweight, with his ribcage and bones prominently showing. His face is contorted in a wide open-mouthed scream or expression of extreme agony and desperation. His eyes are wide and focused, adding to the intensity of the moment. The Stick/Crutch: He is gripping a wooden stick or crutch with both hands, using it to support himself or perhaps as a lifeline. His knuckles are white, suggesting immense physical effort and pain. The Setting: The background is dark, suggesting a dimly lit, possibly indoor or impoverished setting, with some indiscernible objects and fabric visible. The focus is entirely on the man's expression and struggle. The Tone: The photograph conveys a profound sense of suffering, vulnerability, and the harsh reality of aging, poverty, or illness.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Howrah, India
Camera: NIKON Z5_2
Copyright: © Debasis Paik