23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Third-World Island

Captured from the deck of a moving boat, this photograph looks out toward a calm turquoise bay framed by distant mountains and a scattering of modern high-rise buildings along the shoreline. Sailboats rest quietly on the water as thin white contrails stretch across the bright sky. The gentle wake in the foreground adds a sense of motion, contrasting with the peaceful, sunlit landscape ahead.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Phuket, Thailand
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro
Copyright: © Melvin T