23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Guide of the River

An Emberá guide stands tall at the front of a dugout canoe, paddle in hand, as he navigates the calm waters of Panama’s Chagres River. Dressed in traditional woven cloth patterned with vivid geometric designs, he surveys the jungle ahead, framed by thick walls of green. The scene embodies quiet strength and a deep connection to the land and water that sustain his community.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Panama
Copyright: © Chantelle Kincy