23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
New Technology in Old Hands

The history of the Palais Bourbon—seat of French democracy and power—stands silent against the new digital imperative. This image captures a special moment of unexpected connection on the Seine River. After hearing the familiar tone of my native language, I turned to see an elderly couple from Taiwan. As the gentleman raised his smartphone to digitally capture the grandeur of the Palais Bourbon, I chose to capture the view from his view, making this photo very special.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Paris, France
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Copyright: © Weiyin Cheng