Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Reaching Out

This photograph captures the delicate balance between nostalgia and growth, as a pair of worn leather shoes, once a companion on countless journeys, now cradle fresh daisies. Placed intentionally within each shoe, the flowers evoke a sense of rebirth, as if life is finding its way back into something once forgotten. Above, the shadowed hands stretch out towards the same light that illuminates the scene below, symbolizing a yearning for connection, warmth, or perhaps a memory out of reach. Together, the shoes, flowers, and reaching shadows tell a story of quiet resilience and the natural urge to seek light, no matter where we find ourselves.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Copyright: © Jason Seka