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