Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Rising Waters

This photo was taken during the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2022. The water levels in the tidal basin were high and covered some of the sidewalk and came up around a bench. The empty and flooded bench, staring out across tidal basin at our national monuments, really portrayed the loneliness and feeling of impending danger that a lot of us feel about the changing climate. We look out at the places we love as the sea levels rise and weather patterns change, and feel like we're all alone even when surrounded by so many people experiencing the same thing.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D5600
Copyright: © Emily Beckman