23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Resilience in the Light

In a quiet lacquerware workshop, an artisan works steadily as beams of morning light cut through the smoky air. Surrounded by handmade vessels, he continues a craft passed down through generations — a quiet portrait of resilience and devotion.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Shan State, Myanmar
Camera: LEICA SL (Typ 601)
Copyright: © Pyae Phyo Thet Paing