23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Birds in Blight
This image, taken in Walvis Bay, Namibia, captures the delicate grace of flamingos in what is ironically called a "bird sanctuary". The flamingos are juxtaposed against the stark intrusion of human activity: looming power lines, piles of earth, and nearby wastelands. It is a commentary on the uneasy coexistence of nature and human progress, where even sanctuaries are not immune to the spread of urban and industrial sprawl.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 07.2024 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Namibia |
| Camera: | NIKON D850 |
| Copyright: | © Alexandre Brisson |