23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Bench in the City

On a quiet street corner, a red bench turns into a silent stall, a space between survival and abandonment. Clothes and belongings are laid out for sale, while the city continues beyond the fence, distant, indifferent. This photograph reflects the quiet struggle of being seen and unseen at once in the heart of urban life.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Tehran, Iran
Camera: Canon EOS 750D
Copyright: © Zahra Nejati