23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
River Through Time
Carved by thousands of years of rushing glacial meltwater, this dramatic Icelandic canyon winds its way between towering moss-covered cliffs. I captured this shot during a late-afternoon hike along the rim, just as the sun broke through the clouds and painted the rock walls with warm light. Standing above the deep blue river below, I felt a powerful sense of scale and time—like witnessing nature’s artwork shaped over centuries. This moment reminded me how small we are compared to the forces that sculpt our world.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 07.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland |
| Copyright: | © Jing Xin |