23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Beginings

New Beginnings, Old but New World” is a photographic exploration of transition, emotion, and perception. Captured in black and white, the series reflects my experiences upon moving to a new country—an intimate documentation of frustrations, fears, joys, and observations. Through this lens, I seek to confront the emotional weight of change, while also celebrating the unexpected beauty and rhythms of unfamiliar surroundings. The starkness of black-and-white photography allows me to strip away distractions, emphasizing form, texture, and contrast. It mirrors the ambiguity of starting anew: the interplay between clarity and uncertainty, between old memories and new realities. Each image is a meditation on adaptation, resilience, and the layered complexity of human experience in unfamiliar environments.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Copyright: © Migle Duncikaite