23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Steam of Daily Life

Bathed in the glow of a single hanging lamp, the vendor leans over her steaming basket, her movements steady and familiar—repeated thousands of times through the years. The rising steam softens the night air, wrapping her in a gentle haze that speaks of warmth, labor, and tradition. This scene captures not just food being made, but the quiet persistence of an ordinary worker whose hands keep the flavor of Yangzhou alive.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Yangzhou, China
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Copyright: © Yuepeng Bao