23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Father and Son in the Night of Sparks

This photo was taken during Correfoc at La Mercè, when the streets fill with fireworks, drums, and people running through the sparks. In the middle of all the noise and movement, I noticed a father and son staying close to each other as they moved with the crowd. The father walked ahead, making sure the boy was safe, and the son stayed right behind him, matching his pace through the bursts of fire. While everyone around them was celebrating wildly, their moment felt calm and connected — just the two of them sharing something unforgettable together. When the sparks lit up around them, I capturing that simple, human moment between a father and his child inside one of Barcelona’s most energetic traditions.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Barcelona, Spain
Camera: ILCE-7C
Copyright: © Emily Chou