23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Misty Companions

A beautifully composed scene of rural life in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands), captured in the stillness of morning mist. A young boy, barefoot and wearing only pants, stands observing a cow, which is tethered in a dewy field. The heavy fog creates an ethereal, soft backdrop, isolating the figures and highlighting the quiet bond between the boy and the domestic animal. This image underscores the close, traditional relationship between the local youth and their environment and livestock.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Tay Nguyen, Vietnam
Camera: NIKON Z 8
Copyright: © Hung Phung QUang