23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Drifting through summer debris

This photograph captures three mullets swimming in the brackish waters of the Ciane River in Sicily. Their silvery bodies move in quiet synchrony, cutting through a surface scattered with dry leaves and pale organic fragments. The stagnant water, textured with subtle debris, creates a visual contrast that feels both natural and composed. The image reveals a moment of calm within a dynamic ecosystem, where movement, decay, and light converge to form an unexpectedly balanced scene.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Siracusa, Italy
Camera: Canon EOS M50
Copyright: © Mirko Caggioni