23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The Last Light Beneath the Arches

This photograph was taken at sunset in Dubai Creek Harbour, during the moment when daylight softens into evening blue. I was drawn to the bridge’s sweeping curves—its quiet geometry cutting across the sky with a single elegant line. Beneath that structure, the Dubai skyline rests in the distance, almost weightless against the fading light. The frame captures a pause between movement and stillness: people walking along the bridge, the subtle glow of architectural lighting, and the city slowly transitioning from day to night.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Camera: ILCE-7C
Copyright: © Emily Chou