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

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Apex Spotlight

It’s not every day that you come face to face with the ocean’s apex predator. These two female orcas swam by our boat in the early morning hours off the coast of Baja California Sur, seemingly spotlit by the sun. Later in the day, we heard that they had successfully hunted a whale shark. Apex, indeed.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Mexico
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Brittany Ilardi