23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Sunlight After the Storm

This photograph was taken in Guangzhou during the lingering aftermath of the pandemic. I noticed an elderly man sitting quietly in the sunlight, his posture calm and contemplative amid the surrounding movement. The contrast between stillness and a slowly recovering city felt especially powerful. Shot on black-and-white film, the image preserves that moment of quiet resilience and warmth.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Guangzhou, China
Copyright: © Kelsey Tang