Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Last Note

This image captures a state of mind where the consciousness clings to the last fragments of reality, trying to hold on to something that is slipping away. The black-and-white effect emphasizes the emotional contrast—bright moments one tries to preserve in memory and dark traces left by inevitable loss. The smudges under the eyes symbolize the marks of lived experience, exhaustion, pain, but also perseverance. The cigarette in the mouth represents an attempt to hold onto the moment, to breathe it in and not let go. This isn’t about banal feelings like love or relationships; it’s about the global struggle to retain meaning when all that remains is the last note in the symphony of your memories.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2022
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: berlin, Germany
Camera: NIKON D3400
Copyright: © Анастасия Intenberh