23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The Unnoticed Absence

The stone carvings on this railing were once complete, yet one piece is now missing. People walk past every day, but no one seems to notice the absence. Perhaps they’ve grown used to it, or perhaps it simply doesn’t matter anymore. After all, as time moves on, does the loss of one piece really make a difference?

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kaiping, China
Camera: Canon EOS R100
Copyright: © Bruce Yu