23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Black rocks, white foam

This photograph captures a top-down view of a cliffside in Ortigia, Sicily, taken just after a heavy rainfall under a moody, cloud-covered sky. The scene is defined by stark contrasts: black volcanic rocks, foamy white water, and reddish driftwood wedged between the stones. The composition evokes a sense of suspended motion, with the wave frozen just before impact. The interplay of color, texture, and natural geometry transforms a coastal fragment into a visual study of tension, erosion, and elemental rhythm.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Siracusa, Italy
Camera: Canon EOS M50
Copyright: © Mirko Caggioni