23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Echoes of the Highlands

This photograph captures a lone bagpiper performing on the historic streets of Edinburgh — a timeless image where music, heritage, and place intertwine. Dressed in full Highland regalia, the piper stands against the backdrop of ancient stone walls, their deep tones echoing through the narrow closes and open squares of the old city. The moment feels suspended between past and present — a living tradition resonating through mist and memory.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Camera: ILCE-6300
Copyright: © Irina Petrova Adamatzky