23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Crystal Smile

A child from a remote Ethiopian tribe playfully holds a crystal to his eye, breaking into a radiant smile. In the warm evening light, his laughter turns a simple object into a moment of pure imagination and joy.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Jinka, Ethiopia
Copyright: © Zhaoyu Cai