23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Vigilance

When young women experience a devastating emotional failure, their daily lives ‎merge with a period of mourning for the failed relationship. They are not only ‎undergoing the grieving process but are simultaneously struggling with the ‎depression caused by the separation. In this image, I depict a young woman who ‎stays awake from night until morning, watching movies. This act of unconscious ‎vigilance (or sleeplessness) is a reaction to the depression stemming from her ‎routine. She attempts to alleviate her insomnia by consuming films.‎

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Tehran, Iran
Camera: NIKON D5300
Copyright: © Zahra Mobarakifard